About William Speight
Lived 1843 – 1919 (aged 75–76). William Speight was a New Zealand politician.
William James Speight (1843 – 24 April 1919) was a 19th-century Member of Parliament in Auckland, New Zealand.
Biography
Speight was born in Dublin in 1843, where he attended the Blue Coat School. He trained as a mechanical engineer in his father's firm and emigrated to New Zealand in 1865 on the Maori. When gold was found in the Coromandel, he moved to Thames.
He married his cousin, a daughter of Isaac Speight, in 1872. They had six sons and three daughters. He represented the electorate until the end of the parliamentary term in 1881, when he was defeated (for the Thames electorate).
Speight died in Auckland on 24 April 1919, and was buried at Purewa Cemetery.
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Important facts
People in William Speight's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was William Speight?
New Zealand politician
When was William Speight born?
William Speight was born in 1843.
When did William Speight die?
William Speight died on 24 April 1919.
What was William Speight's occupation?
William Speight was a politician.
What nationality was William Speight?
William Speight was New Zealand.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William Speight. https://biography.guide/william-speight/
MLA: "William Speight." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-speight/.
Chicago: "William Speight." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-speight/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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