Walter Rea, 1st Baron Rea

Walter Russell Rea, 1st Baron Rea (18 May 1873 – 26 May 1948), was a British merchant banker and Liberal politician.

Early life and career Rea was the son of Russell Rea, and was educated at University College School in Hampstead and "abroad".

Political career He was elected to the House of Commons for Scarborough in 1906, a seat he held until 1918, and served under H. H. Asquith as a Junior Lord of the Treasury from 1915 to 1916. In 1918, he stood for election in Oldham, coming fourth behind the Unionist and Coalition Liberal candidates:

He later represented Bradford North between 1923 and 1924 and Dewsbury between 1931 and 1935. From 1931 to 1932 he held office in the National Government of Ramsay MacDonald as Comptroller of the Household. Rea was created a Baronet, of Eskdale in the County of Cumberland, in 1935 and in 1937 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Rea, of Eskdale in the County of Cumberland.

Elections contested UK Parliament elections