Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 10 Text from the book: 'The Presiding Officers of the Parliament of New South Wales', Sydney, 1995 Daniel Levy was born on 30 November 1872 in England and emigrated to New South Wales with his parents in 1880. He never married. As a student he obtained great academic distinction with first place honours in both Arts and Law. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly as the Member for Sydney-Fitzroy in 1901 and represented Darlinghurst between 1904 and 1920, during which time he was Chairman of Committees. He was the Member for Sydney from 1920 until 1927, and for Paddington from 1927 until 1930 when he became the Member for Woollahra. Although Levy held the office of Speaker for fourteen years from 1919 until 1937, his Speakership was marked by controversy. Despite belonging to the Nationalist Party, Levy accepted the Speakership under the Dooley Labor Government of 1920. Although he resigned as Speaker the following year, he was re-elected Speaker during the seven hour Fuller Ministry and he retained office when Dooley was recommissioned to establish a new Government. It was his ability to abandon political ties that ensured the continuation of his Speakership under successive governments. Levy streamlined the passage of bills through the Lower House by limiting debate to point of second reading and the committee stage. To ensure a hi-partisan approach to the demands and responsibilities of office, Levy favoured a British style of Speakership in which the Speaker's seat remained uncontested, suggesting in 1929 that the Government adopt this model by statute. Following the dismissal of Jack Lang, Levy served for a month in Bertram Steven's emergency cabinet of 1932 as Minister for Justice and Attorney-General. He died on 20 May 1937 at Darling Point.