Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: A mụrụ Lyster na Dublin, Ireland, dị ka nwa nwoke nke atọ nke Chaworth Lyster, bụ́ onyeisi ndị agha, na nwunye ya bụ́ Anne, "née" Keightly. Nwanne nna ya bụ William Saurin, Attorney-General maka Ireland. Ezinụlọ Saurin si n'agbụrụ ndị French Hugenot. Onye ọzọ n'ime ndị nwanne nna ya bụ James Saurin, Bishọp nke Dromore. Mgbe Lyster dị afọ 13, mgbe ọ rịasịrị ọrịa, e zigara ya njem gburugburu ụwa ma gaa Sydney na Melbourne na 1842. Mgbe ọ laghachiri England, ọ gara India na ebumnuche nke ịghọ onye na-akụ ihe, mana ihu igwe anaghị adabara ya, ọ laghachiri England ọzọ. N'afọ 1847, ọ nọ na Saụt Afrịka ma lụọ ọgụ na
7th Cape Frontier War, na otu afọ mgbe nke ahụ gasịrị, nọ na United States ebe ọ nwara ọdịmma ya dịka onye omee na obere ihe ịga nke ọma.