Edmund Lyons , 1st Baron Lyons Admiral Edmund Lyons , 1st Baron Lyons , GCB , KCH ( 21 November 1790 – 23 November 1858 ) was a British naval commander and diplomat who 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 , including ambassadorial positions in Sweden , Switzerland and to the newly established court of King Otto of Greece . Biography . Edmund Lyons was born at Whitehayes House , Burton , near Christchurch , 21 November 1790 . 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 . Naval service . He joined the Royal Navy in 1803 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 . 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 became Minister Plenipotentiary to the Confederated States of the Swiss Cantons and in view of his services was made a Rear - Admiral of the Blue in the following year . In 1851 he was appointed Minister at Stockholm . 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 . 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 , Mediterranean Fleet . Honours . Edmund Lyons was created K . C . H . ( 1835 ) , G . C . B ( Civil & Military ) , G . C . M . G . , Baronet ( 1840 ) and , in 1856 , elevated to the peerage as " Baron Lyons , of Christchurch " . He was the recipient of various other foreign honours , namely : Death and issue . Edmund , Lord Lyons , died at Arundel Castle in Sussex 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 . 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 :