MRCS Eng 1889, FRCS 1892; MB Lond 1890, MD 1892; BSc Vict 1904.
Lea, the nephew of Dr Warrington of Congleton, was a medical student of Owens College Manchester. He held junior appointments at Queen Charlotte's Hospital, MRI and Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, and in 1895 Lea settled in Manchester as assistant to Sir William Japp Sinclair. Lea joined the staff of the Manchester Clinical Hospital for Women and Children in 1897 and was later appointed to the honorary staff of St Mary's Hospital Manchester. Lea was also lecturer in obstetrics at Owens College and made his name as a gynaecologist. Lea took an active part in the foundation of the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the British Empire. He was president of the North of England Obstetrical Society in 1912 and was a fellow of the Obstetrical Society of London. Lea retired due to ill health in 1914, and died on 7 May 1916.