Robert Dyer Lyons facts for kids

Robert Spencer Dyer Lyons

Robert Spencer Dyer Lyons (born August 13, 1826, died December 19, 1886) was an Irish doctor. He also served as a Member of Parliament (MP), which means he was a representative in the British government.

Early Life and Education

Robert Lyons was born in Cork, Ireland, in 1826. His father was Sir William Lyons, a successful merchant who was also the mayor of Cork twice. Sir William was even knighted by the Queen when she visited Cork in 1849. Robert's mother was Harriet Spencer Dyer.

Robert went to school at Hamblin and Porter's Grammar School in Cork. Later, he studied at Trinity College, Dublin. He earned his degree in medicine in 1848. The next year, he became a licensed doctor with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

Medical Career and Important Missions

Helping Soldiers in the Crimea

In 1855, Robert Lyons became a special commissioner for the British Army. He went to the Crimea, a region where a war was happening. His job was to study the diseases that were making soldiers sick in the trenches. For his important work, he received special medals in 1855.

Investigating Yellow Fever

In 1857, Robert volunteered for another important mission. He traveled to Lisbon, Portugal, to study yellow fever. This serious disease was spreading there. He wrote a report about what he found. The King of Portugal, Pedro V of Portugal, honored him for his work.

Teaching and Hospital Work

After these missions, Robert Lyons joined St George's Hospital, Dublin. He helped train medical staff for the army. He also taught medicine at the Roman Catholic university medical school. He was a senator at the Royal University of Ireland and a member of the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom. He also worked as a doctor at the House of Industry hospitals and visited Maynooth College as a physician.

Public Service and Parliament

Looking into Prisons

In 1870, the government, led by Mr. Gladstone, asked Robert Lyons for help. They wanted him to investigate how Irish prisoners were being treated in English prisons. To do this, he visited many prisons in France to learn about their rules.

Protecting Irish Forests

Robert Lyons was very keen on planting more trees in Ireland. He thought it was important to bring back the forests. With the government's support, he gathered information about forests from other countries. He wrote an article about this for a forestry magazine in 1883.

Serving as a Member of Parliament

From 1880 to 1885, Robert Lyons was a Member of Parliament (MP). He represented Dublin City in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. He was a member of the Liberal party. During his time as an MP, he spoke about important laws, like the Parliamentary Oaths Act in 1883.

Later Life

Robert Spencer Dyer Lyons passed away on December 19, 1886, at his home in Merrion Square, Dublin.