A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Lyon, Francis
LYON. (Lieut., 1814. f-p., 20; h-p., 22.)
Francis Lyon was born 24 Aug. 1794. This officer entered the Navy, 1 July, 1805, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Romulus frigate, armée en flûte, Capt. Thos. Burton, stationed in the Channel; and from Aug. 1806, until wrecked on Sable Island 3 Aug. 1812, was employed in the West Indies and on the coast of America, nearly the whole time as Midshipman, in the Emulous 18, Capts. Gustavus Stupart and Wm. Howe Mulcaster. He assisted, during that period, in beating off, when in the neighbourhood of Puerto Rico, 9 Nov. 1809, a French frigate mounting 32 guns, after an action, fought within pistol-shot, of an hour and 40 minutes, in which the Emulous was cut to pieces, and sustained a loss of 10 killed and 20 wounded; and, on 26 Aug. 1811, and 30 July, 1812, he contributed to the capture of L’Adèle French letter-of-marque, adon with cotton, and the Gossamer American privateer of 14 guns and 100 men. During the whole term of Capt. Mulcaster’s command, a period of nearly two years, he was in constant charge of a watch, and was intrusted with the conduct into port of every prize of the least value. On the occurrence of the catastrophe above alluded to, he was turned over with his Captain to the Nautilus brig, in which vessel, it appears, he cruized with great activity and success. In April 1813, being then Master’s Mate, although performing the duties of Lieutenant, of the Statira 38, Capt. Hassard Stackpoole, we find him commanding one of the boats of a squadron, containing 105 men, under the orders of Lieut. Jas. Polkinghorne, at the dashing capture, 15 miles up the Rappahannock river, of four schooners, carrying in the whole 31 guns and 219 men, an exploit which was productive of a loss to the British of 2 killed and 11 wounded, and to the enemy of 6 killed and 10 wounded. After serving for a few months in the St. Domingo 74, flag-ship of Sir John Borlase Warren, and Prince Regent 56, bearing the broad pendant of Sir Jas. Lucas Yeo on Lake Ontario, he was, in June, 1814, nominated, at the earnest recommendation of his friend Capt. Mulcaster, Acting-Lieutenant of the Princess Charlotte 42, commanded at first by that gallant officer, and next by Capts. Edw. Collier and Rich. O’Conor, also on the Canadian station; where, being confirmed by a commission dated 18 of the following Nov., he continued employed, in the same ship and the Psyche 32, Capt. Peter Fisher (participating in the mean while in much valuable and important service), until ordered home, in July, 1815, in the Calliope 10, Capt. Alex. Maconochie. From the latter date, unable to procure an appointment, Lieut. Lyon remained on half-pay until 1837; since 8 Feb. in which year he has been in command of a station in the Coast Guard.
He married, 17 Feb. 1817, Miss Eliza Fawcett, of Portarlington, and by that lady has issue five children.