Francis Speed (English cricketer)

Francis Elmer Speed (28 February 1859 — 28 August 1928) was an English first-class cricketer, barrister, stockbroker and British Army officer.

The son of William Speed, he was born at Paddington in February 1859. He was educated at Rugby School,[1] where he played for and captained the school cricket eleven.[2] A student of the Middle Temple, he was called to the bar to practice as a barrister in 1883.[3] Described by Wisden as "a sound batsman and in the field, though not always, [a] wicket-keeper",[2] Speed played first-class cricket for the Marylebone Cricket Club on three occasions, making two appearances in 1882 against Kent and Nottinghamshire, and one appearance in 1884 against Nottinghamshire.[4] He scored 30 runs across his three matches, with a highest score of 16.[5] In addition to playing first-class cricket, Speed also made minor appearances for Herefordshire.[2]

Speed later changed professions and became a stockbroker.[1] He also served in the Royal East Kent Yeomanry, being commissioned as a second lieutenant in March 1900.[6] He served in South Africa in the Second Boer War.[7] Speed was appointed High Sheriff of Kent in March 1914,[8] having been unsuccessful in his 1912 and 1913 nominations.[9][10] He was made a temporary major in the Yeomanry in May 1914[11] and served in the First World War and was attached to headquarters,[12] before being restored to the Royal East Kent in November 1916.[13] He was made up to the full rank of major in June 1917,[14] before relinquishing his commission on account of ill health in September 1917.[15] A justice of the peace for Kent,[16] Speed lived out his final years in the county at Knowlton Court near the village of Goodnestone. He died there in August 1928.[2]