Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Lecky, Squire Thornton Stratford
LECKY, SQUIRE THORNTON STRATFORD (1838–1902), writer on navigation, born at Down, co. Down, Ireland, in 1838, was son of Holland Lecky of Bally Holland House, Bangor, co. Down, and Castle Lecky, co. Derry.
Lecky was sent to school at Gracehill, co. Antrim. At fourteen, without permission of his parents, he began his career at sea as midshipman on board the Alfred (1291 tons), a sailing merchantman, bound for Calcutta. But on his return home he showed an ambition for wider experience by apprenticing himself to James Beazley, a Liverpool shipowner. After serving his time on saihng ships voyaging to India, he became in 1857 second mate of Beazley's Star of the East, 'a magnificent China clipper.' He was subsequently second mate of an American ship, and then for two years first-class second master in the Indian navy, serving in the ships Indus, Frere, and Napier until the Indian fleet was disbanded. Thereupon he rejoined the merchant service, and made voyages to North and South America, in one of which he sought in vain to run the blockade of Charleston harbour during the American civil war. In 1864 he obtained his master's certificate, and was for some years second officer in the Inman Company's service. He was afterwards employed successively by Messrs. Lamport Holt of Liverpool (for four and a half years) and by the Pacific Steam Navigation Company (for six years).
In these employments he became an expert in the navigation of the Pacific, and made a great reputation in shipping circles for his nautical surveys. He was frequently of service in detecting 'danger-spots' not marked on existing charts. In 1865 he detected off Rio de Janeiro what has since been called 'Lecky Rock,' a steep and but slightly submerged rock, surrounded on aU sides by seven fathoms of water. Shortly afterwards he located a similar danger-spot near Rat Island, and the 'Lecky Bank' to the north-east of the River Plate entrance. In 1869 he published, as the result of his first trip to Cears, in Brazil, a plan showing wide errors in earher charts, both as to the shape of the land and depth of the water. In 1874 plans of his were published by the Admiralty showing similar errors in existing charts of Port Tongoy, Chile. For many years his running surveys for the Strait of Magellan and for a large part of Smyth's Channel (off Chile) and the water between Punta Arenas and Cape Pillar were the only trustworthy guides to safe navigation. His nautical surveying work, which was highly appreciated by the Admiralty, covered the greater part of the coast of South America.
In 1876 he sailed as a guest on Lord Brassey's yacht, the Sunbeam, when she started on her voyage round the world. But he left her at Buenos Aires, and then, for lack of a better engagement, sailed for Calcutta as boatswain on the City of Mecca. In the evening he gave classes in navigation to the officers from the captain downwards, and in the morning wielded the hose as boatswain. In 1878 he became commodore captain of the British steamers of the American line from Liverpool to Philadelphia, and thoroughly enjoyed the responsibility. He commanded the British Prince transport in the Egyptian war of 1882, and going to the front won the medal and the Khedive's bronze star, and received a complimentary letter from the lords commissioners of the admiralty on his zealous and able conduct. Lecky had previously received a commission as a royal naval reserve officer, and eventually retired with the rank of commander.
In his spare time Lecky wrote on navigation. He had acquired by his own diligent study at sea a knowledge of mathematics and astronomy, which betrayed exceptional strength of intellect and character. His healthy and vigorous style, and avoidance, where possible, of technical language, gained fur his books a world-wide popularity among seamen. His 'Wrinkles in Practical Navigation’ (1881; 15th edit 1908, with photogravure portrait) is the best work of its kind. In 1882 he published 'The Danger Angle and Off-Shore Distance,' and in 1892 'Lecky's A, B, C and D Tables.' The latter were labour-saving tables for solving problems in navigation and nautical astronomy, which he recast from varied material. He was an extra master, and passed the board of trade examination in steam machinery, a knowledge of which frequently stood him in good stead.
In 1884 Lecky was appointed marine superintendent of the Great Western Railway Company, being selected from some 600 applicants. With great energy and efficiency he supervised the Irish steamship service from Milford Haven, the fast Weymouth and Channel Island steamers, and those running between Weymouth and Cherbourg, besides looking after the company's docks. He practically designed their ships and supervised their building, drawing up the specifications in his own hand. He also kept for eight years an automatic tide-gauge, which demonstrated what the Admiralty tide-tables for Pembroke Dock were in error. In 1898 Lecky's health failed and he retired on a pension, but the company retained him as their consultant adviser in all marine matters. He was a younger brother of the Trinity House, and an enthusiastic fellow of both the Royal Astronomical and the Royal Geographical societies. He was for many years a member of the Mercantile Marine Association, and served on its council. Till within a few weeks of his death he was busy on a 'Star Atlas.' He died at Las Palmas on 23 Nov. 1902, and was buried in the English cemetery at that place. Lecky married twice, and a son by his first wife and a son and daughter by his second wife survived him.
[The Nautical Mag. 1902; The Times, 6 Dec. 1902; F. T. Bullon's A Great Merchant Seaman, in Cornhill Mag., Feb. 1903; information from Lecky's son, Lieut. H. S. Lecky, K.N.]