Thomas Abel Brimage Spratt
| Thomas Abel Brimage Spratt | |
|---|---|
"Captain Thos. A. B. Spratt RN" (annotation)
Carte de visite by Schembri & Zahra, Malta, ca 1860s. |
|
| Born |
May 11, 1811 Woodway Cottage, East Teignmouth |
| Died | March 12, 1888 (aged 76) Tunbridge Wells |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Royal Navy Vice Admiral, hydrographer, and geologist |
| Spouse(s) | Sophia Price |
| Children | a son |
| Parent(s) | James Spratt |
Thomas Abel Brimage Spratt (11 May 1811 – 12 March 1888) was an English vice-admiral, hydrographer, and geologist.
He was born at Woodway House, East Teignmouth and is the eldest surviving son of Commander James Spratt, RN, who was a hero of the Battle of Trafalgar. He joined the Royal Navy at age 16 in 1827 and was attached to the surveying branch on HMS Victory. He was engaged almost continuously until 1863 in surveying the Mediterranean while in command of the converted sixth-rate HMS Volage. As commander of the Spitfire he rendered distinguished service in the Black Sea during the Crimean War, and was appointed CB in 1855.
At an earlier date he was associated with Edward Forbes, then naturalist to the "Beacon", and during the years 1841–1843 they made observations on the bathymetric distribution of marine life. He was specially indebted to Forbes for his interest in natural history and geology, and together they published Travels in Lycia, etc. (1847). He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society as The author of Travels in Lycia, & Important papers in the Journals of the Geological & Geographical Societies.
Whilst on sick leave in Teignmouth due to the after effects of malaria he investigated the movements of the Sand Bars at Teignmouth and suggested practical means of improving the entrance to the harbour. He published his research in 1856 and was congratulated for the clarity and practicality of his work by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who was building the South Devon Railway at the time.
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