1. Algernon Lyons was the nephew of Admiral Edmund Lyons, 1st Baron Lyons, who served as Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet, under whom he served for a time, and the cousin of Richard Lyons, 1st Viscount Lyons, and Richard Lyons Pearson, Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.
Algernon Lyons was the second son of Lieutenant General Humphrey Lyons and his first wife, Eliza, daughter of Henry Bennett.
Algernon Lyons was the cousin of Richard Lyons Pearson, Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.
Algernon Lyons was appointed to the fifth-rate HMS Cambrian on the East Indies and China Station and then transferred to the second-rate HMS Albion, flagship of his uncle, Sir Edmund Algernon Lyons, who was Second-in-Command of the Mediterranean Fleet, in 1853.
Algernon Lyons was promoted to mate in October 1853 and transferred to the paddle frigate HMS Firebrand, which was engaged in the blockade of the Danube Delta, which was being held by the Russians at the start of the Crimean War.
When Parker was killed, Algernon Lyons took control of the British boats and proceeded to destroy not only the first Russian signal station, but the next four signal stations up the River, causing the Russians to flee.
Algernon Lyons commanded the first-rate HMS Royal Albert, in December 1854 during the operations at Kerch in October 1854 and at the Battle of Kinburn in October 1855.
Algernon Lyons became commanding officer of the sloop HMS Racer on the North America and West Indies Station in May 1860.
Algernon Lyons was deployed to Constantinople during his tour in HMS Monarch.
Algernon Lyons became Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Station, with his flag in the armoured ship HMS Swiftsure, in December 1881.
Algernon Lyons became Commander-in-Chief of the North America and West Indies Station in September 1886: in this position, his flagship was the central battery ship HMS Bellerophon, in September 1886.
Algernon Lyons was promoted to admiral on 15 December 1888 and appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1889.
Algernon Lyons became a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in June 1897 and was promoted Admiral of the Fleet on 23 August 1897.
Algernon Lyons was a Deputy Lieutenant and Justice of the Peace for Glamorgan.