Baron Rea

Baron Rea, of Eskdale in the County of Cumberland, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1937 for the businessman and Liberal politician Walter Rea, who had earlier represented Scarborough, Bradford North and Dewsbury in the House of Commons. He had already been created a Baronet, of Eskdale in the County of Cumberland, in 1935.

Walter Rea's father, Russell Rea, was also a Member of Parliament and had been admitted to the Privy Council in 1909.

The second Baron, Philip Russell Rea, was the eldest son of Walter Rea. During the Second World War he served as personal staff officer to Brigadier Colin Gubbins, the Head of SOE, a key British intelligence and guerrilla operations agency. He served as Leader of the Liberal Party in the House of Lords from 1955 to 1967.His daughter, the Right Hon. Ann Felicity Rea, married SOE veteran Malcolm Munthe in 1945.

As of 2007 the title is held by the third Baron, Nicolas Rea. He is a nephew of the second Baron and so of Betty Rea the sculptor. He is a physician. Lord Rea is one of the ninety elected hereditary peers that remain in the House of Lords after the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999, and sits on the Labour benches.

The family surname and the title of the Barony, Rea, is pronounced "Ree".

Barons Rea (1937)

*Walter Russell Rea, 1st Baron Rea (1873-1948)
*Philip Russell Rea, 2nd Baron Rea (1900-1981)
*(John) Nicolas Rea, 3rd Baron Rea (b. 1928)

References

*Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). "Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage" (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.
* [http://www.angeltowns.com/town/peerage/ Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page]
* [http://www.liberalhistory.org.uk/uploads/27_dutton_lord_rea.pdf Lord Rea, Biography of Phillip Russell Rea: Journal of Liberal History, Issue 27, Summer 2000]