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.

Francis Speed
Personal information
Full name
Francis Elmer Speed
Born28 February 1859
Paddington, Middlesex, England
Died23 August 1928(1928-08-23) (aged 69)
Goodnestone, Kent, England
BattingRight-handed
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
18821884Marylebone Cricket Club
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 3
Runs scored 30
Batting average 6.00
100s/50s –/–
Top score 16
Catches/stumpings 1/–
Source: Cricinfo, 12 August 2021

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]

References

  1. Mitchell, A. T. (1902). Rugby School Register 1852–1874. Vol. 2. A. J. Lawrence. p. 339.
  2. "Wisden - Obituaries in 1928". ESPNcricinfo. 2 December 2005. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  3. Foster, Joseph (1885). "Speed, Francis Elmer". Men-at-the-bar. Reeves and Turner. p. 440.
  4. "First-Class Matches played by Francis Speed". CricketArchive. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  5. "First-Class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Francis Speed". CricketArchive. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  6. "No. 27173". The London Gazette. 13 March 1900. p. 1717.
  7. Big Fortune for Widow. Sheffield Independent. 23 November 1928. p. 4
  8. "No. 28811". The London Gazette. 10 March 1914. p. 2159.
  9. "No. 28551". The London Gazette. 17 November 1911. p. 8343.
  10. "No. 28663". The London Gazette. 15 November 1912. p. 8370.
  11. "No. 28830". The London Gazette. 12 May 1914. p. 3840.
  12. "No. 29840". The London Gazette. 28 November 1916. p. 11599.
  13. "No. 29858". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 December 1916. p. 12098.
  14. "No. 30157". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 June 1917. p. 6503.
  15. "No. 30311". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 September 1917. p. 10014.
  16. Death of Major Elmer Speed. Dover Express. 31 August 1928. p. 7
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