Walter Maxfield Lea
Encyclopedia
Walter Maxfield Lea 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. 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 on January 10, 1936.
He married Helena Esma Maude Mary Rodgerson in 1899. His daughter Marion married Walter Fitz-Alan Stewart.
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
politician.
A farmer and livestock breeder by profession, Lea was born in Tryon
Tryon, Prince Edward Island
Tryon is an unincorporated area in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Situated on Route 1 and Route 10 , it lies within the township of Lot 28 which in 2006 had a population of 880 people. Tryon is not far from Crapaud, Prince Edward Island....
, the son of William C. Lea
William C. Lea
William Charles Lea was a farmer and political figure on Prince Edward Island. He represented 4th Prince in the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island from 1876 to 1879 as a Liberal....
and Annie Murphy. He was elected to the provincial House of Assembly
House of Assembly
House of Assembly is a name given to the legislature or lower house of a bicameral parliament. In some countries this may be at a subnational level....
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
Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island
The Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island is the top court in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island and the highest Court of Appeals in the province....
but the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
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
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
. Lea had been ill during the campaign, however, and died in office at the Prince Edward Island Hospital
Prince Edward Island Hospital
The Prince Edward Island Hospital is a former acute care hospital that was located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. It was the first public general hospital established in the province and the largest such facility throughout its history....
in Charlottetown on January 10, 1936.
He married Helena Esma Maude Mary Rodgerson in 1899. His daughter Marion married Walter Fitz-Alan Stewart.