Herbert was born in 1886 in a small town just outside of London. Although raised by non-Christian parents, he experienced a spiritual conversion as a young adult, as a result of meeting his future wife, Lily Flory. He attended Glasgow Bible Institute, and during World War I was a minister in Perth, Scotland. He became a pastor in Scotland and England, and a leader in the Keswick Higher Life Movement. In 1936, after he spoke at the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Moody Bible Institute, he ventured on an extensive Bible lecturing ministry in the United States.
He wrote the book All the Men in the Bible. This was the beginning of the now famous All Bible Study Series. Praised by leading Bible scholars, the series is comprised of 21 volumes, including All the Miracles of the Bible, All the Promises of the Bible, and All the Women of the Bible. The inspiring books became international bestsellers.
During the last seven years of his life, Dr. Lockyer lived in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with his son Rev. Herbert Lockyer, Jr., a Presbyterian minister who became his editor. Dr. Lockyer passed away on December 3, 1984.