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. 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 The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagio ...

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 The Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island is one of three major political parties on Prince Edward Island. The party and its rival, the Liberals, have alternated in power since responsible government was granted in 1851. Histor ...

. 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 Walter Fitz-Alan Stewart (July 11, 1885 – February 9, 1956) was a farmer, fox rancher and political figure in Prince Edward Island. He represented 1st Queens in the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island from 1928 to 1931 and from 1 ...

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Lea, Walter 1874 births 1936 deaths People from Prince County, Prince Edward Island Premiers of Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island Liberal Party MLAs Prince Edward Island Liberal Party leaders