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. He did not win re-election at the 1902 Western Australian Legislative Council election, with his term running out on 21 May 1902. He unsuccessfully stood for the electoral district of West Perth in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly at the 1905 Western Australian state election on 27 October 1905.