Lyster wuxuu ku dhashay magaalada Dublin, Ireland, wuxuu ahaa wiilka saddexaad ee Chaworth Lyster, oo ahaa kabtan ciidan, iyo xaaskiisa Anne, "née" Keightly. Adeerkiis wuxuu ahaa William Saurin, Xeer Ilaaliyaha Guud ee Ireland. Qoyska Saurin waxay qayb ahaan ka soo jeedeen Hugenot Faransiis. Adeerkiis kale wuxuu ahaa James Saurin, oo ahaa Bishop of Dromore. Markii uu jiray 13 sano, Lyster, kadib xanuun, waxaa loo diray safar adduunka oo dhan ah wuxuuna booqday Sydney iyo Melbourne 1842. Ka dib markii uu ku soo laabtay England, wuxuu aaday Hindiya isagoo doonaya inuu noqdo nin beeraley ah, laakiin cimiladu isaga uma habboona, mar labaad ayuu ku soo laabtay England. Sanadkii 1847kii, wuxuu ku sugnaa Koonfur Afrika, wuxuuna ka qayb qaatay dagaalkii 7aad ee Cape Frontier War
Sanad ka dib, wuxuu maray maraykanka, halkaas oo uu ku tijaabiyay nasiibkiisa sida jilaa, guul yar ayaana gaadhay.