Career

Around 1834, Lyons" older brother Zaligman Selwin became an attorney and moved to Jackson, Louisiana. Lyons then follows and settled in Saint Francisville. Lyons married Eliza Pirrie in 1840.

Together with Lyons, they had three daughters, Lucy Pirrie, Cora August and Eliza (who passed in childhood in 1853).

In 1851, Lyon"s wife passed as the age of 46. Lyons left his family to travel to California during the Gold Rush, ultimately settling in the Sonora area.

Being an experienced attorney, he came in second for the votes by the California Legislature for the new California Supreme Court (behind Justice Serranus Clinton Hastings). Hastings had a two-year ending in 1852, and Lyons then took over as Chief Justice.

Lyons resigned as Chief on March 31, 1852, after serving after three months.

Lyons wrote a total of eleven opinions during his term on the Court, nine as an associate justice and two as Chief. After his term, Lyons did not return to practicing law and instead focused on his business interests in San Francisco. Lyons died on July 27, 1872 in San Francisco.