James Speed

James Montgomery Speed was a politician who was a member of the Western Australian Legislative Council (upper house) for the Metropolitan-Suburban Province from 29 August 1900 to 21 May 1902. He was not elected as a member of any political party, but was a delegate from the Parliamentary Labor Party to the August 1901 Labor Congress. He was also a cricketer, and played in four first-class matches for Wellington from 1877 to 1880. Life in New Zealand Speed was born on 10 August 1856 in Wanganui, Wellington Province, New Zealand. His parents were James, a licensed publican, and Janet Montgomery. He was educated at Nelson College and the University of New Zealand. Following that, he worked as a lawyer in Wellington and Auckland. Speed played in four first-class matches for Wellington from 1877 to 1880. Life in Perth In 1892, Speed moved to Perth, Western Australia. He married Louisa Katherine Carey (née Hester, born ) on 25 March 1894 at St John's Church, Perth. She died on 15 November 1894. On 14 February 1895, Speed married Georgina Henrietta Spencer (born ) at a private residence at Wilberforce, near York, Western Australia. No children resulted from either marriage.