James Speed (March 11, 1812 - June 25, 1887) was an American lawyer, politician and professor. He was born in Jefferson County, Kentucky, to Judge John Speed and his second wife Lucy Gilmer Fry. He graduated from St. Joseph's College in Kentucky, studied law at Transylvania University and was admitted to the bar at Louisville, in 1833. He joined the Whig Party and became a strong opponent of slavery. In 1847 Speed was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives. Wikipedia
He was the brother of Joshua Speed, who had been Mr. Lincoln's closest friend in Springfield before Speed returned to Kentucky in 1841. www.mlwh.org/inside.asp?ID=95&subjectID=2
The definitive Wikipedia entry for James Speed. Wikipedia is the biggest multilingual free-content encyclopedia on the Internet. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Speed
He was the brother of Joshua Speed, who had been Mr. Lincoln's closest friend in Springfield before Speed returned to Kentucky in 1841. www.mlwh.org/inside.asp?ID=95&subjectID=2
