Edmund Lyons, 1st Baron Lyons

Edmund Lyons, 1st Baron Lyons, G.C.B., K.C.H., British naval commander and diplomat, led a distinguished career in the Royal Navy, culminating with the Crimean War and his appointment as Commander of the Black Sea Fleet. He also held various diplomatic posts for Her Majesty's government, including ambassadorial positions in Sweden, Switzerland and to the newly established court of King Otto of Greece.

Career

Edmund Lyons was born at Whitehayes House, Burton, near Christchurch, Hampshire, 21 November 1790. He died at Arundel Castle, Sussex, 23 November 1858. He was the fourth son of John Lyons of Antigua and St. Austin's, Hants, and Catherine (née Walrond), daughter of Maine Swete Walrond, 5th Marquis de Vallado. [Eardley-Wilmot, S. M. (2005). "Life of Vice-Admiral Edmund, Lord Lyons", p. 1. Adamant Media Corporation (facsimile of edition published in 1898 by Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd., London). ISBN 1-4212-9001-4.]

Naval Service

He joined the Royal Navy in 1802 and in 1810 was in the 18-gun sloop HMS Barracouta at the capture of Banda Neira in New Guinea from the Dutch. The following year he led a launch's crew in the storming of Fort Marrack west of Batavia. In 1814 he commanded the sloop HMS Rinaldo in the fleet that escorted the French King Louis XVIII from England to France. After the peace following the Napoleonic Wars Lyons was, like many other officers, unable to find employment, until in 1828 he was appointed to command the 46-gun frigate HMS Blonde, in which he attacked a Turkish force in Morea Castle near Patras. In 1829 he cruised in the Black Sea, and in 1831 was appointed to command of the frigate HMS Madagascar, whose previous captain, Sir Robert Spencer, had died at Alexandria. Lyons brought the "Madagascar" home to England but sailed again in her for the Mediterranean in February 1832, and in August transported the newly-chosen King Otto of Greece from Brindisi to Nauplia. ["Russian War, 1854. Baltic and Black Sea Official Correspondence" edited by D. Bonner-Smith and Captain A.C. Dewar. Navy Records Society, 1943. 'Introduction' to Black Sea section by Captain A. C. Dewar, pp. 207-8.]

Diplomat

His friendship with the Greek King was an important factor in his subsequent career. After "Madagascar" returned to England in 1834 Lyons saw no opening for him in the peacetime navy but accepted a diplomatic mission to Greece from Lord Palmerston; after this was concluded he was appointed British Minister at Athens and left the Navy at the age of 45. In 1849 he went on to become British Minister in Switzerland, but in view of his services was made a Rear-Admiral of the Blue in 1850. In 1851 he was appointed Minister at Stockholm. ["Russian War, 1854. Baltic and Black Sea Official Correspondence" p. 208.]

Crimean War

In 1853 at the urging of Sir James Graham he was persuaded to return to naval service and was appointed second-in-command of the Mediterranean fleet. He also received a pension of £900 per annum for his years of diplomatic service. Hoisting his flag as Rear-Admiral of the White on board the steam frigate HMS "Terrible" on 5 November 1853, he left England for the Dardanelles, where he joined his flagship, the steam ship of the line HMS "Agamemnon" of 91 guns. ["Russian War, 1854. Baltic and Black Sea Official Correspondence" p. 209.] Throughout 1854 Lyons was an invaluable second to the naval commander-in-chief, Admiral Sir James Deans Dundas, throughout the operations, reconnoitering Russian positions, co-operating with the French and Turkish navies, transporting the British army to the Crimea, and taking a leading part in the bombardment of Sevastopol. On 20 December Admiral Dundas departed from the fleet, which he left under the command of Rear-Admiral Lyons, who was presently confirmed as commander-in-chief.. ["Russian War, 1854. Baltic and Black Sea Official Correspondence" pp. 215-225.]

Honours

Edmund Lyons was created a knight 1835, Baronet 1840 and then elevated to the peerage as "Baron Lyons, of Christchurch" in 1856. He was the recipient of various other foreign honours, namely:
*1828 - Knight of the Order of St Louis (France)
*1833 - Knight Commander of the Order of the Redeemer (Greece)
*185? - Order of the Mejidie, 1st Class (Ottoman Empire)

Edmund, Lord Lyons, died on 23 November 1858. His body was interred in the vault beneath the Fitzalan Chapel at Arundel Castle. A full lifesize marble statue by Matthew Noble was erected to his memory in 1860 in St. Pauls Cathedral, London.

Death and Issue

In 1814 he had married Augusta Louisa Rogers (1791–1852), younger daughter and co-heiress of Captain Josias Rogers, R.N., by whom he had two sons and two daughters:

Notes and references