The son of Edward Lea, of Sandbach, Cheshire, and a nephew through his mother of Dr F W Warrington, of Congleton. He was educated at Parkhurst School, Buxton, and at Owens College. He afterwards held resident appointments at the Manchester Royal Infirmary, where he was House Surgeon, at the Hospital for Sick Children, Pendlebury, and also at the Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital and at Queen Charlotte's Hospital. He settled in Manchester in 1895, becoming assistant to Sir William Japp Sinclair. In 1897 he joined the staff of the Northern Hospital for Women and Children, Manchester, of which he was afterwards Surgeon, and then Consulting Surgeon. The hospital in 1905 amalgamated with St Mary's Hospital for Women and Children, of which he became Assistant Surgeon, and then Surgeon. He was also early elected Lecturer on Midwifery and the Diseases of Women at Owens College. He collaborated actively with Sir W Sinclair and Dr W E Fothergill in founding the *Journal of Obstetrics and Gyncecology of the British Empire*, and in 1912 was elected President of the North of England Obstetrical Society. He attained to an eminent position as a gynaecologist, with a large consulting practice; but outside his professional work he also showed many brilliant qualities. In early days he was an athlete, devoted to rock-climbing. He talked well and was one of the most attractive speakers at the Manchester Medical Students' Debating Society, taking an interest in general, literary, and sociological subjects as well as in science. He was elected President of the Manchester Fortnightly Society, where he frequently spoke in debate, and to which he contributed papers evincing high literary culture. In 1913 he had a serious breakdown, and he died at Southport on May 7th, 1916. He was buried at St Peter's Church, Congleton. In 1913 he married Miss Lillias Thompson McTaggart. Publications: *Puerperal Infection*, 8vo, 35 plates, London, 1910. "On Breech Presentation with Extended Legs" (with W S A GRIFFITH). - *Trans Obst Soc*, 1897, xxxix, 13. "The Sagittal Fontanelle in the Heads of Infants at Birth." - *Ibid*, 1898, xl, 263. "Influence of Gonorrhoea on the Puerperium, with Analysis of 50 Cases." - *Trans North of England Obst and Gyncaecol Soc*, 1900, 53. "Bacteriological Diagnosis of Puerperal Infection: its Value and Limitations." - *Ibid*, 1901 (Appendix), 189. "Ovarian Tumours complicating Pregnancy and Labour." - *Ibid*, 1904, 85. "Spinal Anaesthesia by Cocaine in Gynaecology," 8vo, Manchester, 1902; reprinted from *Med Chronicle*, 1901-2, xxxv, 161. "The Vermiform Appendix in Relation to Pelvic Inflammation." - *Jour Obst and Gynaecol*, 1906, x, 133.