| Thomas Abel Brimage Spratt |
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He was the eldest son of Commander James Spratt, RN, 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 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 Bathymetrical distribution of marine life. To Forbes he was specially indebted for his interest in Natural History and Geology , and together they published ''Travels in Lycia'', etc. ( 1847 ). Spratt investigated the caves at Malta and obtained remains of the Pygmy Elephant (''Elephas melitensis''), which was described by Hugh Falconer . He investigated the geology of several Greek islands, also the shores of Asia Minor , and made detailed observations on the Nile Delta . 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 12th of March 1888. |
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