Shelton Leake

Shelton Farrar Leake (November 30, 1812 – March 4, 1884) was a nineteenth-century politician, lawyer and teacher from Virginia. He served as Virginia’s first lieutenant governor from 1852 to 1856. He also served two non-consecutive terms in the United States House of Representatives.

Shelton Leake
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 6th district
In office March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1861
Preceded by	Paulus Powell
Succeeded by	William Milnes, Jr. (1870)
1st Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
In office January 16, 1852 – January 1, 1856
Governor	Joseph Johnson
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Elisha W. McComas
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 5th district
In office March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1847
Preceded by	William L. Goggin
Succeeded by	William L. Goggin
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Albemarle County
In office 1842 Alongside: Thomas Jefferson Randolph
Personal details
Born	Shelton Farrar Leake November 30, 1812 Albemarle County, Virginia
Died	March 4, 1884 (aged 71) Charlottesville, Virginia
Resting place	Maplewood Cemetery, Charlottesville, Virginia
Political party	Democratic (before 1858)
Other political affiliations	Independent Democrat (after 1858)
Profession	lawyer

Biography

Born near Hillsboro, Albemarle County, Virginia Leake completed preparatory studies, taught school, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1835, commencing practice in Charlottesville, Virginia. He was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1842 and 1843 and was elected a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives in 1844, serving from 1845 to 1847. Afterward, Leake resumed practicing law and in 1851 was elected the first Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, serving from 1852 to 1856. He was elected back to the House of Representatives as an Independent Democrat in 1858, serving again from 1859 to 1861. Leake again resumed practicing law until his death in Charlottesville, Virginia on March 4, 1884. He was interred in Charlottesville in Maplewood Cemetery.

Electoral history

• 1845; Leake was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives with 52.55% of the vote, defeating an Independent identified only as Irving.
• 1859; Leake was re-elected with 59.17% of the vote, defeating Democrat Paulus Powell.

External links

• United States Congress. "Shelton Leake (id: L000176)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Shelton Leake at Find a Grave