Tristram Speedy

Tristram Charles Sawyer Speedy (also known as Captain Speedy; November 1836 – 1911) was a well-known English explorer and adventurer during the Victorian era.

Speedy was born at Meerut, India, a son of James Speedy, an army officer (a Lieutenant in the 3rd Regiment of Foot (The Buffs), born in Dublin in 1811), and his wife Sarah, an army officer's daughter. After being educated in England, Speedy returned to India as an army officer himself. He served in the North-West Frontier Province from 1854 to 1860, receiving the Indian Mutiny, Punjab and Eufoszai medals.

While hunting in the Horn of Africa, Speedy was summoned to the court of Emperor Tewodros II of Ethiopia, who bestowed on him the title Basha Felika ('Sir Speedy' or 'Commander Speedy'). Tewodros employed him to train his army; however, Speedy fell out with the emperor and had to flee the country.

He then served as locum tenens and British vice-consul at the Red Sea port of Massawa. In early 1864 Speedy resigned to travel to New Zealand, where he served in the Waikato Militia. He was promoted to captain in 1864, and received the Maori Wars medal.

During the 1868 Expedition to Abyssinia Speedy's knowledge of Ethiopia was crucial to the commander, Sir Robert Napier. Speedy was recalled to join the expedition and received the Abyssinian War Medal. After an audience with Queen Victoria, Speedy was appointed guardian to prince Alamayu Simeon, the young son of the late Emperor Tewodros, who had committed suicide rather than surrendering for the British. Speedy's collection of Ethiopian objects from this time is now in the British Museum.

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