Wilson v. Speed was a case heard by the United States Supreme Court in 1806. The plaintiff, Wilson, sued for damages after his horse was killed while being transported on a steamboat owned by the defendant, Speed. Wilson argued that he had been promised safe transport of his horse and that it should have been provided with food and water during its journey. He claimed that due to negligence on behalf of the boat's crew, his horse died from exhaustion or starvation before reaching its destination. The court found in favor of Wilson and awarded him $100 in damages plus costs associated with bringing suit against Speed's company. This decision established an important precedent regarding liability for damage caused to property while under transportation via steamboats or other vessels operating within navigable waters of the United States at this time period; owners were held responsible if their vessel caused harm through neglectful behavior or inadequate care given to passengers' goods during transit.

In Wilson v. Speed, the Supreme Court was tasked with determining whether a deed of conveyance from one party to another could be valid if it had been signed by only one of the parties. The majority opinion held that such a deed would not be valid unless both parties had signed it, as this was in accordance with common law and custom at the time. However, Justice Samuel Chase dissented from this decision on two grounds: firstly, he argued that there were cases where deeds without signatures from both parties had been accepted as legally binding; secondly, he maintained that even if such deeds were not generally recognized under common law or custom at the time of their execution they should still be considered valid due to an act passed by Congress which allowed for certain kinds of contracts to remain enforceable despite being unsigned.