Walter Lea

Walter Lea
17th Premier of Prince Edward Island
In office
May 20, 1930  August 29, 1931
Monarch George V
Lieutenant Governor Frank Richard Heartz
Charles Dalton
Preceded by Albert C. Saunders
Succeeded by James D. Stewart
In office
August 15, 1935  January 10, 1936
Monarch George V
Lieutenant Governor George DesBrisay DeBlois
Preceded by William J. P. MacMillan
Succeeded by Thane A. Campbell
Leader of the Prince Edward Island Liberal Party
In office
1930–1936
Preceded by Albert C. Saunders
Succeeded by Thane Campbell
Personal details
Born February 10, 1874
Tryon, Prince Edward Island
Died January 10, 1936 (aged 61)
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Nationality Canadian
Political party Liberal
Spouse(s) Helena Esma Maude Mary Rogerson (m. 1899)
Relations William C. Lea (father)
Children Marion, Edith, Gordon, Chester, and Clifford
Residence Victoria, Prince Edward Island
Occupation farmer and livestock breeder
Profession Politician
Cabinet Minister of Agriculture (1919–1923)
Commissioner of Agriculture and Provincial Secretary-General (1927–1930)
Religion Methodist

Walter Maxfield Lea (February 10, 1874 January 10, 1936) was a Prince Edward Island politician.

A farmer and livestock breeder by profession, Lea was born in Tryon, the son of William C. Lea and Annie Murphy.[1] He was elected to the provincial House of Assembly in 1915 as a Liberal and became commissioner of agriculture in 1919. In 1930 Lea became premier when his predecessor was appointed to the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island but the Great Depression took a toll on the government's popularity and he lost the election the next year to the rival Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island.

Lea rebuilt the party while in opposition and in 1935 the Liberals won all 30 seats in the legislature, the first time such a thing had ever happened in the British Empire. Lea had been ill during the campaign, however, and died in office at the Prince Edward Island Hospital in Charlottetown[1] on January 10, 1936.

He married Helena Esma Maude Mary Rodgerson in 1899. His daughter Marion married Walter Fitz-Alan Stewart.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Weeks, Blair (2002). Minding the House: A Biographical Guide to Prince Edward Island MLAs. Acorn Press. ISBN 1-894838-01-7.