Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 34.djvu/237

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Lucas
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Lucas

of the Arts of War,' but being written in cipher it was never published (Life of Newcastle, ed. Firth, p. 282). To his military gifts Lucas added a devotion to the king's cause, which he sometimes expressed in singularly high-flown and poetical language (Warburton, Prince Rupert, ii. 370; Vicars, God's Ark. p. 399).

Two brothers of Charles Lucas, John, created in 1645 Lord Lucas [q. v.], and Sir Thomas Lucas (d. 1649), also distinguished themselves on the king's side. Thomas Lucas was born before his father's marriage with Elizabeth Leighton. His father purchased for him the manor of Lexden, Essex, from the heirs of Robert Ratcliffe, earl of Sussex (Morant, i. 124. 131). Lucas obtained the command of an English troop in the Dutch service, and was knighted by Charles I on 14 April 1628 (Metcalfe. Book of Knights). In December 1638 Strafford gave him the command of a troop in the Irish army (Strafford, Letters, ii. 254, 262). He was one of the officers in whom Ormonde most confided during the Irish rebellion, held the rank of commissary-general of the horse, distinguished himself at the battle of Kilrush (15 April 1642), and was desperately wounded at the battle of Ross (18 March 1643; Bellings, History of the Irish Catholic Confederation, i.132; Carte, Ormonde, ed. 1851. ii. 247, 252). From 1642 he was a member of the Irish privy council, took part in negotiating the cessation of hostilities in 1643 and the treaty of 1646, and was consequently held a delinquent by parliament (Bellings, ii. 46, 365). He was, however, allowed to compound for his estate on paying a fine of 637l. in 1648, and died before October 1649 (Cal. of Compounders p. 675; Cal. of Co. for Advance of Money, p. 821). He married Mary, daughter of Sir John Byron of Newstead, Nottinghamshire (Collins, vii. 99).

[Lives of Lucas are contained in Lloyd's Memoirs of Excellent Personages, 1668, and in Heath's New Book of Loyal English Martyrs. A Memoir of the Life of Sir Charles Lucas, by Thomas Philip, Earl de Grey, and Baron Lucas, 4to, was privately printed in 1845. The Life of William Cavendish, Duke of Newcastle, ed. Firth. 1886, contains an account of Lucas, App. pp. 363-369; accounts of the family of Lucas, with a pedigree, are given in Morant's History of Colchester, 1789, and his History of Essex, 1758; Letters of Sir Charles Lucas are printed in Warburton's Prince Rupert in the Fairfax Papers, and in Hist. MSS. Comm. 9th Rep. pt. ii.]

C. H. F.

LUCAS, CHARLES, M.D. (1713–1771), Irish patriot, born on 16 Sept. 1713, was the younger son of a Mr. Lucas of Ballingaddy in co. Clare, where Lucas seems to have been born. His father and elder brother were improvident, and having squandered their estate the family removed to Dublin, where they lived in comparative obscurity and poverty (Dublin Penny Journal, i. 389). Having served the usual apprenticeship as an apothecary, Lucas was admitted to the Guild of St. Mary Magdalene, and for many years kept a shop in Charles Street, Dublin. According to an anonymous writer of doubtful credibility (An Apology for the Conduct and Writings of Mr. C—s L—s, Apothecary, Dublin, 1749), he married early, had a large family; affected notoriety by advertising his drugs in Latin, failed in business, and retired to England until his friends effected a composition with his creditors. In conducting business Lucas was struck with certain abuses connected with the sale of drugs, and in 1795 published 'A Short Scheme for Preventing Frauds and Abuses in Pharmacy, humbly offered to the Consideration of the Legislature.' His pamphlet was resented by his fellow-apothecaries, but was the cause of an act being passed for the inspection of medicines, &c. In 1741 he published his 'Pharmacomastix, or the Office, Use, and Abuse of Apothecaries explained,' and had the satisfaction of seeing the former act renewed (Critical Review of the Liberties of the British Subjects, p. 37). In this year also he was chosen one of the represents of his corporation on the common council of the city of Dublin. He soon came to the conclusion that the board of aldermen had illegally usurped many of the powers belonging of right to the entire corporation. Aided by James Latouche, a prominent merchant of the city, he secured the appointment of a committee, with Latouche as chairman, to inspect the charters and records of the city. The aldermen strenuously resisted reform, and in 1743 he published 'A Remonstrance against certain Infringements on the Rights and Liberties of the Commons and Citizens of Dublin,' arguing that the right of electing aldermen lay with the entire corporation. His argument was disputed by Recorder Stannard, and in the following year Lucas published his closely reasoned and temperate 'Divelina Libera: an Apology for the Civil Rights and Liberties of the Commons and Citizens of Dublin.' During the year the controversy continued with unabated zeal on both sides (see The Proceedings of the Sheriffs and Commons, &c., Dublin, 1744, and A Message from the Sheriffs and Commons to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen … protesting against the Election of George Ribton, Dublin, 26 Sept. 1744). By Lucas's efforts (A Brief