Birthplace:
- Craigarvin, Queen's County, Ireland

Birthdate:
- 27 January 1843

Nationality:
- Irish-Scottish

Height:
- 5 feet 6 inches

Family Background:
- Lecky's father was John Hartlepole Lecky, and his mother,  Isabella, was the daughter of Colonel Eardly Wilmot, R.A. John Hartlepole had died sometime before May 1855, for in that month his widow married the Scottish peer, the Earl of Carnwath.

At Sandhurst:
- No

Foreign Languages:
- French, German, Spanish, Italian

Career before Halifax:
- Ensign, 2 July 1861 (purchase)
- Lieutenant, 11 September 1863 (purchase)
- Adjutant, 21 November 1865
- Captain, 21 August 1867 (purchase)

Medals & Awards:
- None

Postings while in NS Command:
- Halifax, 9 May 1869 to 1 August 1870
- Saint John, New Brunswick, 2 August 1870 to 18 May 1871
- Halifax, 19 May 1871 to 25 November 1871

Career after Halifax:
- retired by the sale of his commission, 17 July 1872

As noted, in May 1855 Lecky's widowed mother, Isabella, had married the Scottish Earl of Carnwath. The latter's seat was Glenie House in Dumfrieshire, and doubtless Lecky spent a great deal of time there as a teenager and a young man.

The Earl had died in 1867, and in 1877 Isabella was listed as the Dowager Countess of Carnwath, with an address at 15 Cromwell Place, South Kensington, London.  When applying for a first commission in 1861 Lecky indicated that he was interested in two regiments, the 60th Rifles or the 78th Highlanders - the latter being his preference.