21 Facts About George Leake

George Leake first entered parliament in 1886, when he served briefly in the Legislative Council.

George Leake was again briefly a member of that body in 1888.

In 1890, George Leake was elected unopposed to the Legislative Assembly, but he resigned shortly after in order to continue as Crown Solicitor.

In 1894, George Leake re-entered the Legislative Assembly, representing the seat of Albany.

Throssell's government was short-lived and he was replaced as premier by George Leake, who appointed himself attorney-general.

Alf Morgans was appointed as his successor, but was unable to form a government, resulting in George Leake being recommissioned as premier after just a month out of office.

George Leake is the only Premier of Western Australia to have died in office.

George Leake was born on 3 December 1856, in Perth in what was then the British colony of Western Australia.

The Leake family was prominent in the development of Perth and Western Australia; his father George Walpole Leake was a barrister and politician, his uncle Luke Samuel Leake was the first Speaker of the Western Australian Legislative Council.

Young George Leake was educated at the Church of England Collegiate School and at St Peter's College in Adelaide.

George Leake had been on the ship travelling to St Peter's in Adelaide to undergo a law course.

George Leake took a keen interest in the gold mining industry, and was a member of the syndicate that successfully sent Harry Anstey to find gold in the Yilgarn in 1887.

In September 1886, George Leake was appointed acting Attorney-General, and was nominated to the colony's Legislative Council.

On 28 November 1890, George Leake was elected unopposed to the Legislative Assembly seat of Roebourne.

George Leake was offered a position in John Forrest's ministry, but declined, and resigned shortly afterwards on 30 December 1890 to avoid forfeiting his position as Crown Solicitor.

On 23 June 1894, George Leake was elected as Legislative Assembly member for Albany, and in the following year became Leader of the Opposition.

George Leake was an enthusiastic proponent of federation and was president of the Federation League.

On 2 August 1900, George Leake resigned his seat for business reasons, and travelled to Europe.

Leader of the Opposition Frederick Illingworth was then invited to form a government, but could not do so because George Leake refused to serve under him and some other members refused to serve without George Leake.

Alf Morgans then formed a government, but in the subsequent ministerial by-election, supporters of George Leake stood against Morgans' new cabinet, and three of the six new ministers were defeated.

George Leake died on 24 June 1902, to date the only Western Australian premier to die in office.