Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Lucas, Robert
LUCAS, ROBERT (1748?–1812), divine and poet, born in Northampton about 1748, was educated at the grammar school there, whence he proceeded to Trinity College, Cambridge, and graduated as a ten-year man, B.D. in 1787, D.D. in 1793 (Grad. Cant. p. 302). In 1772 he was serving the curacy of Brixworth, and in 1778 that of Hardingstone, Northamptonshire, but on 8 March 1782 he was instituted to the vicarage of Pattishall, in the same county. In 1787 he was collated to the rectory of Ripple, Worcestershire, which he held with his vicarage. He died at Ripple on 1 March 1812. Lucas, who married a niece of Bishop Hurd, left a son, Richard Hurd (b. 1789), and a daughter, Harriet Charlotte.
Lucas translated into English heroic verse the Homeric 'Hymn to Ceres,' 4to, London, 1781, accompanied by notes and a translation of Ruhnken's preface. He reprinted his translation in a volume of 'Poems on Various Subjects,' 8vo, Tewkesbury, 1810. He also published some sermons and probably wrote the excellent memoir of Hurd in the ' Ecclesiastical and University Annual Register' for 1809 (see Notes and Queries, 2nd ser. viii. 416).
[Baker's Northamptonshire, ii. 300; Chambers' Biog. Illustr. of Worcestershire, p.540; Gent. Mag. 1812. pt. i. p.497; Watt's Bibl. Brit. ii. 620; Lucas's Poems.]