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Thomas Abel Brimage Spratt

1911 Encyclopedia Britannica

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THOMAS ABEL BRIMAGE SPRATT (1811-1888), English vice-admiral, hydrographer and geologist, was born at East Teignmouth on the 11th of May 1811. He was the eldest son of Commander James Spratt, R.N., and entered the navy in 1827. He was attached to the surveying branch, and was engaged almost continuously until 1863 in surveying the Mediterranean. As commander of the "Spitfire" he rendered distinguished service in the Black Sea during the Crimean War, and was appointed C.B. in 1855. At an earlier date he was associated with Edward Forbes, then naturalist to the "Beacon," and during the years1841-1843they made observations on the bathymetrical distribution of marine life. To Forbes he was specially indebted for his interest in natural history and geology, and together they published Travels Lycia, &c. (1847). Spratt investigated the caves at Malta and obtained remains of the pigmy elephant ( Elephas melitensis ), which was described by Dr II. Falconer. He investigated the geology of several Greek islands, also the shores of Asia Minor, and made detailed observations on the Delta of the Nile. He was especially distinguished for his Travels and Researches in Crete (2 vols., 1865), in which he ably described the physical geography, geology, archaeology and natural history of the island. He was commissioner of fisheries from 1866 to 1873; and acting conservator of the Mersey from 1879 until the close of his life. He died at Tunbridge Wells on the 10th of March 1888.