David Lyon Junior (1794–1872) was a West Indies merchant, Member of parliament, and landowner. His portrait was painted by Sir Thomas Lawrence c. 1825, and is now in the Museum Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid.
Contents
Background
David Lyon senior (1754–1827) was a successful West Indies merchant. He was descended from William Lyon of Pettanys (1433–1498) progenitor of the Easter Ogil branch (Burkes L.G. 1906), 3rd son of Patrick Lyon 1st Lord Glamis (1402–1459). With his wife Isabella Read (1776–1836) he had ten children, of whom David was the third, born on 8 April 1872. David junior was educated at Harrow (1809). In 1825, aged 31, his portrait was painted by Sir Thomas Lawrence, then president of the Royal Academy and at the peak of his career. Lawrence was paid for the painting in 1828, which would seem to have cost the high sum of 700 guineas. His father, David Lyon senior, also had his portrait painted by Lawrence, but the whereabouts of this portrait is unknown.
Below is the painting of David Lyon Senior.
Career
Lyon Junior was a Tory Member of Parliament for Bere Alston, a so-called rotten borough, controlled by Lord Beverley. He never spoke in Parliament, and, after the Reform Act disenfranchised Bere Alston, never returned to office.
David Lyon junior joined the family business and had large interests in Jamaica. He was a slave owner, until the abolishment of slavery in 1833, when he was compensated for over two thousand slaves, held on thirteen estates.