Basil Lubbock

Alfred Basil Lubbock (9 September 1876 – 3 September 1944) was a British historian, sailor and soldier. He was a prolific writer on the last generation of commercial sailing vessels in the Age of Sail. He was an early (1911) member of the Society for Nautical Research, served on its council (1921–1924) and contributed to its journal, The Mariner's Mirror.

Biography

He was born 9 September 1876 at Rowley Bank, Arkley, Hertfordshire, the second of five children. His father, who was also named Alfred Lubbock, had married his mother, Louisa Wallroth, in 1875. Alfred senior worked as an underwriter for Lloyd's of London and was a director in Robarts, Lubbock & Co, a private bank founded in 1772. He was descended from Sir John Lubbock, 2nd Baronet.

Basil Lubbock spent most of his early life in the care of an uncle. He was educated at Eton College, where he was a member of the cricket team, 1894–95. (His father had also attended Eton, where he was a noted sportsman. Lubbock senior continued to play cricket as an adult and was considered one of the best batsmen in England). While at Eton, Lubbock junior acquired some skill in drawing and watercolour painting. Some of his paintings appeared in his first book. Others are held in the collection of the National Maritime Museum, London. He was expected to follow family tradition and attend King's College, Cambridge. Instead he decided to travel and left Britain by steamship for Canada.

In 1898 he set out for the Klondike Gold Rush. He sailed to Alaska in the steamer City of Seattle and hiked over the Chilkoot Trail to the Yukon gold fields. After several unsuccessful months, and a harsh winter, he gave up gold prospecting.