Clarence Frederick Lea (July 11, 1874 – June 20, 1964) was an American lawyer and politician who served 16 terms as a U.S. Representative from California from 1917 to 1949.

[1] Lea was born near Highland Springs, California, in southwestern Lake County on July 11, 1874.

Lea was admitted to the bar the same year and began practicing in Santa Rosa, California.

Lea is known for having led the group of congressmen who passed the resolution calling for the internment of Italian-Americans, Japanese-Americans and German-Americans during World War II.

[2][3] This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress