Walter Lea

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

Walter Lea
17th Premier of Prince Edward Island
In office
May 20, 1930 – August 29, 1931
MonarchGeorge V
Lieutenant GovernorFrank Richard Heartz
Charles Dalton
Preceded byAlbert C. Saunders
Succeeded byJames D. Stewart
In office
August 15, 1935 – January 10, 1936
MonarchGeorge V
Lieutenant GovernorGeorge DesBrisay DeBlois
Preceded byWilliam J. P. MacMillan
Succeeded byThane A. Campbell
Leader of the Prince Edward Island Liberal Party
In office
May 20, 1930 – January 10, 1936
Preceded byAlbert C. Saunders
Succeeded byThane Campbell
MLA (Councillor) for 4th Prince
In office
September 16, 1915 – July 26, 1923
Preceded byMichael C. Delaney
Succeeded byJohn H. Myers
In office
June 25, 1927 – January 10, 1936
Preceded byJohn H. Myers
Succeeded byHorace Wright
Personal details
Born(1874-02-10)February 10, 1874
Tryon, Prince Edward Island
DiedJanuary 10, 1936(1936-01-10) (aged 61)
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
NationalityCanadian
Political partyLiberal
Spouse(s)
Helena Esma Maude Mary Rogerson
​
(
m. 1899)
RelationsWilliam C. Lea (father)
Children5
ResidenceVictoria, Prince Edward Island
Occupationfarmer and livestock breeder
ProfessionPolitician
CabinetMinister of Agriculture (1919–1923)
Commissioner of Agriculture and Provincial Secretary-General (1927–1930)

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
  • "Walter Maxfield Lea". Premier's Gallery. Government of Prince Edward Island. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
  1. Weeks, Blair (2002). Minding the House: A Biographical Guide to Prince Edward Island MLAs. Acorn Press. ISBN 1-894838-01-7.
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