Frederick Corbin Lukis (24 February 1788 – 15 November 1871) was a British

archaeologist Archaeology or archeology is the study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of Artifact (archaeology), artifacts, architecture, biofact (archaeology), biofacts or ecofacts, ...

naturalist Natural history is a domain of inquiry involving organisms, including animals, fungi, and plants, in their natural environment, leaning more towards observational than experimental methods of study. A person who studies natural history is cal ...

, collector, and

antiquarian An antiquarian or antiquary () is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient artefacts, archaeological and historic si ...

Background

Lukis was born in La Grange,

Saint Peter Port St. Peter Port () is a town and one of the ten parishes on the island of Guernsey in the Channel Islands. It is the capital of the Bailiwick of Guernsey as well as the main port. The population in 2019 was 18,958. St. Peter Port is a small tow ...

Guernsey Guernsey ( ; Guernésiais: ''Guernési''; ) is the second-largest island in the Channel Islands, located west of the Cotentin Peninsula, Normandy. It is the largest island in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, which includes five other inhabited isl ...

. He was the youngest of the four children of Sarah (

née The birth name is the name of the person given upon their birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name or to the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a births registe ...

Collings; 1749–1816) and Captain John Lukis (1753–1832). His father was a member of the Royal Guernsey militia who made a fortune in the "slightly murky world" of

privateering A privateer is a private person or vessel which engages in commerce raiding under a commission of war. Since Piracy, robbery under arms was a common aspect of seaborne trade, until the early 19th century all merchant ships carried arms. A sover ...

and importing expensive wine. Already in his youth Lukis became interested in

natural history Natural history is a domain of inquiry involving organisms, including animals, fungi, and plants, in their natural environment, leaning more towards observational than experimental methods of study. A person who studies natural history is cal ...

, and probably attended Elizabeth College.

Career

He was strongly influenced by his elderly relative, the botanist Joshua Gosselin (1739–1813), who took him to his first excavation at a recently discovered artificial cavern. The experience triggered a lifelong passion for the protection of the island's heritage. He became a member of the

Society of Antiquaries of London The Society of Antiquaries of London (SAL) is a learned society of historians and archaeologists in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1707, received its royal charter in 1751 and is a Charitable organization, registered charity. It is based ...

on 28 April 1853, but never published in the Society's journal, ''Archaeologia''. Like his father, he served in the island's militia, becoming a

colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

and aide-de-camp to the island's last governor William Keppel.

Family

On 17 February 1813, Lukis married his first cousin, Elizabeth Collings (1791–1865). They had three daughters and six sons, some of whom inherited his interests. John Walter Lukis (1816–1894), his second son, was a mining engineer and excavator; the eldest daughter,

Louisa Collings Louisa Elizabeth Collings (''née'' Lukis; 4 June 1818 or 1828 – 24 March 1887) was an amateur lichenologist and natural history collector from the Channel Islands. She is the ancestor of all the subsequent Seigneurs of Sark through her chi ...

, was a lichenologist; his third son,

William Collings Lukis Rev. William Collings Lukis MA. Society of Antiquaries of London, FSA (8 April 1817 in Guernsey – 7 December 1892 in Wath (near Ripon), Wath, North Riding of Yorkshire) was a British antiquarian, archeologist and polymath. William Colli ...

, was an antiquarian and archaeologist; the fifth son, François du Bois Lukis (1826–1907), was a lieutenant and archaeologist. His youngest daughter, Mary-Anne (1822–1906), provided watercolour sketches of Lukis' artefacts. Lukis died at the house he was born in. Lukis' collection was donated by his son François du Bois to the Guernsey Museum, and forms its nucleus. His living descendants include the actor

Adrian Lukis Adrian Leonard Fellowes Lukis (born 28 March 1957) is an English actor who has appeared regularly in British television drama since the late 1980s. Some of his most notable appearances have been as Sergeant Doug Wright in the police drama ser ...

;

Christopher Beaumont, 23rd Seigneur of Sark Christopher Beaumont, 23rd Seigneur of Sark (born 4 February 1957) is the present Seigneur of Sark in the Channel Islands. He is a former British Army officer. Biography Beaumont is the son of Michael Beaumont, 22nd Seigneur of Sark and Dian ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Lukis, Frederick 1788 births 1871 deaths British antiquarians British archaeologists Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of London People from the Bailiwick of Guernsey Natural history collectors People educated at Elizabeth College, Guernsey