He was born in Westminster, the second son of Samuel Hayhurst Lucas, a London corn-merchant, who was a member of the Society of Friends. He was educated at a Quaker school in Darlington, and then at University College, London.
Lucas was born in Westminster, the younger sibling of Samuel Hayhurst Lucas, a merchant from London with ties to the Society of Friends. His early education took place at a Quaker school in Darlington before he went on to attend University College, London.