Henry Francis Le Hunte Lyster was born on November 8, 1837 at Sander's Court, County Wexford, Ireland, to the Reverend William N. and Ellen Emily (Cooper) Lyster. The father, an Episcopal clergyman, graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, had already been to America, where in 1833 he built St. Peter's Church at Tecumseh, Michigan, the first church of his denomination in Michigan. He brought his family to America in 1838.
Lyster received his preliminary education in private schools in and about Detroit, graduated in arts at the University of Michigan in 1858 and in medicine from the medical college of the university in 1860.
At the outbreak of the Civil War Lyster was commissioned assistant surgeon of the 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry, subsequently becoming surgeon of the 5th Michigan. He served in the Army of the Potomac from the battle of Bull Run to Appomattox, mainly as an operating surgeon. He was at one time acting medical director of the III Army Corps.
Returning to Detroit at the close of the war he quickly became one of the leading physicians and surgeons of the state. In 1868 he was appointed lecturer on surgery in the University of Michigan which position he filled for two years. From 1888 to 1890 he was professor of theory and practice of medicine and clinical medicine at the same school. The travel involved in going from Detroit to Ann Arbor compelled him to give up his teaching connection with the university. He was one of the founders and served as president of the faculty of Michigan College of Medicine. After its fusion in 1885 with the Detroit Medical College, when the Detroit College of Medicine was formed, he served as professor of the practice of medicine and of clinical diseases of the chest until 1893.
At different times he was connected editorially with the Peninsular Journal of Medicine and the Detroit Clinic. His professional writings appear in these journals and in the Transactions of the State Medical Society. He was appointed in 1873 a member of the original State Board of Health and served eighteen years, taking particular interest in the protection of water supplies.
For years he was medical director of the Michigan Life Insurance Company. Though he came out of the Civil War with an unusual surgical experience and a reputation as a skilful operator, he continued to the end as a family practitioner, a conscientious attendant upon whatever patient called upon his skill and counsel. This exacting service took its toll of his health and his last years were marked by invalidism from pernicious anemia from which he died.
Lyster became one of the leading physicians and surgeons of the state Virginia. He distinguished himself as a surgeon during the America Civil War and participated in many important engagements in Virginia. His genius for organization gave him a prominent part in the founding of the Michigan College of Medicine, the Detroit Academy of Medicine, the Wayne County Medical Society, and the Michigan State Medical Society. He also contributed numerous articles to periodicals.
Personally Lyster was tall and of spare build, with dark hair and clear blue eyes. In his chosen vocation he was an example of the honor and generosity which mark the ideal man of medicine. He was always a student and in his later years his fund of learning and his gift for logical expression made him one of the most accomplished public speakers in Detroit.
Lyster was married in Washington, D. C. , on January 30, 1867, to Winifred Lee Brent, daughter of Captain Thomas Lee Brent of Stafford County, Virginia. His wife and five children survived him.
