Career
In 1860 he established a business selling buckets, shovels and other oddments. They concentrated on the new types of lamp burning paraffin and petroleum for which there was considerable demand. The business became Lucas Industries.
He died in Naples of typhoid after drinking contaminated water (he was a devout teetotaller and would not drink wine).
His body was brought back to England for burial, which took place on 14 January 1903 at Saint Mary"s Church, Moseley.