Ku dhammee weedhan soo socota: Lyster wuxuu ku dhashay magaalada Dublin, Ireland, wuxuuna ahaa wiilka saddexaad ee Chaworth Lyster, oo ahaa kabtan ciidanka, 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 ku dagaalamay dagaalkii South Africa.
Sanad ka dib, waxa uu joogay Mareykanka, halkaas oo uu ku tijaabiyay nasiibkiisa jilaa ahaan, balse guul yar ayuu gaaray.