Henry Lucy

Who was Henry Lucy?

Sir Henry Lucy JP, was an English journalist and humorist, and a parliamentary sketch-writer acknowledged as the first great lobby correspondent.

Henry Lucy was born in Crosby, near Liverpool in 1842, the son of Robert Lucy, a rose-engine turner in the watch trade, and his wife, Margaret Ellen Kemp. He was baptised on 23 April 1843 at St. Michael's Church, Crosby.

While he was still an infant the family removed to Everton, Liverpool, where he attended the private Crescent School until August 1856; thereafter until 1864 he was junior clerk to Robert Smith, hide merchant, of Redcross Street, Liverpool.

Worked as a clerk, and had poetry published in the Liverpool Mercury; taught himself shorthand. Worked for the Shrewsbury Chronicle, the local Observer, and the Shropshire News. Lived in Paris during 1869, and learned French.

Lucy married on 29 October 1873 Emily Anne, daughter of his old schoolmaster at Liverpool, John White. There were no children of the marriage.

British journalist; wrote for Pall Mall Gazette from 1870, for Daily News from 1873: and for Punch from 1881. Used the nom-de-plume "Toby, M.P." from 1881 to 1916. Wrote the weekly column "The Essence of Parliament" in Punch magazine for 35 years. When not writing under one of his pseudonyms, he was usually styled Henry W. Lucy.