Edward Speelman

Edward Joseph Speelman (16 May 1910 – 29 August 1994) was an English art dealer. While serving in the British Army during the Second World War, he arrested Artur Seyss-Inquart, the Reich Commissioner for the Netherlands.

Early life and family Edward Speelman was born in the Willesden district of London on 16 May 1910 to Dutch-born parents. His father was a fine art dealer He was educated at University College School, Hampstead.

He married Sadie De Casseres in Marylebone, London, in 1937, with whom he had a son.

He owned racehorses and with Klairon won the French 2000 Guineas in 1955. He was a keen golfer and retired to France and Switzerland. Also in 2017 a settlement was reached concerning a painting by Michele Marieschi between the family of an Austrian Jewish art collector who had been looted by the Gestapo and a foundation in possession of the work. Speelman had sold the painting. On October 7, 2021, "View of Beverwijk" by Salomon van Ruysdael was deaccessioned by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in order to restitute it to the heirs of Ferenc Chorin, who had been looted by the Nazis. The Museum had purchased the painting from Speelman on September 15, 1982.