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 byPaulus Powell
Succeeded byWilliam Milnes, Jr. (1870)
1st Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
In office
January 16, 1852 – January 1, 1856
GovernorJoseph Johnson
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byElisha W. McComas
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 5th district
In office
March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1847
Preceded byWilliam L. Goggin
Succeeded byWilliam 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
DiedMarch 4, 1884(1884-03-04) (aged 71)
Charlottesville, Virginia
Resting placeMaplewood Cemetery, Charlottesville, Virginia
Political partyDemocratic (before 1858)
Other political
affiliations
Independent Democrat (after 1858)
SpouseRebecca Gray
Children
  • Gay Pendleton Leake
  • Ada Shelton Leake
  • Hiliah Frances Leake
  • Shelton Farrar Leake
Professionlawyer

Biography

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Born near Hillsboro, Albemarle County, Virginia to Dr. Samuel Leake and Sophia Farrar, 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. Leake was a presidential elector in 1849. [1]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

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  • 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.

References

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  1. ^ "Death of Hon. Shelton F. Leake". The DIspatch. 14 February 1849. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 5th congressional district

1845–1847
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 6th congressional district

1859–1861
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by
Position established
Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
1852–1856
Succeeded by
Notes and references
1. Because of Virginia's secession, the House seat was vacant for almost nine years before Milnes succeeded Leake.