US Congressman, Author. Born in Virginia, he moved to Kentucky in 1782 with his parents. Speed worked in a clerk's office and in the mercantile business in Bardstown and Danville, Kentucky. For several years, he was a farmer in Nelson County, Kentucky until he became a circuit court clerk in Nelson County. During the War of 1812, he was commissioned as a Major of Kentucky Militia and commanded volunteer soldiers in the Southern Theater of the war. After the war, he returned to Kentucky and was elected as a Democratic Republican to represent Kentucky's 10th District in the United States House of Representatives. He served from 1817 to 1819 and was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1818. Speed returned to his farm and took an active interest in writing about the politics and pioneers of Kentucky. He was elected to the Kentucky Legislature in 1821 and 1822 and again in 1840 as a member of the Whig Party. Among his most popular selections, he wrote "The Political Club (of) Danville, Kentucky" and a description of the routes of travel by which the pioneers and early settlers first came to Kentucky entitled "The Wilderness Road." Some of his work found its way to being published through the efforts of his son. Speed died at his residence, on his farm known as "Cottage Grove", in 1842 when he was 71 years old. His brother, John Speed, was a Judge and a wealthy farm owner in Kentucky. His nephew, James Speed, was a Cabinet member during the Lincoln Administration as Attorney General. Another nephew, Joshua Fry Speed, was a Kentucky politician.
US Congressman, Author. Born in Virginia, he moved to Kentucky in 1782 with his parents. Speed worked in a clerk's office and in the mercantile business in Bardstown and Danville, Kentucky. For several years, he was a farmer in Nelson County, Kentucky until he became a circuit court clerk in Nelson County. During the War of 1812, he was commissioned as a Major of Kentucky Militia and commanded volunteer soldiers in the Southern Theater of the war. After the war, he returned to Kentucky and was elected as a Democratic Republican to represent Kentucky's 10th District in the United States House of Representatives. He served from 1817 to 1819 and was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1818. Speed returned to his farm and took an active interest in writing about the politics and pioneers of Kentucky. He was elected to the Kentucky Legislature in 1821 and 1822 and again in 1840 as a member of the Whig Party. Among his most popular selections, he wrote "The Political Club (of) Danville, Kentucky" and a description of the routes of travel by which the pioneers and early settlers first came to Kentucky entitled "The Wilderness Road." Some of his work found its way to being published through the efforts of his son. Speed died at his residence, on his farm known as "Cottage Grove", in 1842 when he was 71 years old. His brother, John Speed, was a Judge and a wealthy farm owner in Kentucky. His nephew, James Speed, was a Cabinet member during the Lincoln Administration as Attorney General. Another nephew, Joshua Fry Speed, was a Kentucky politician.
Bio by: K Guy
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