Sir Lyonel Lyde, 1st Baronet facts for kids

Sir Lyonel Lyde, 1st Baronet (1724–1791), also known as Lionel Lyde, was an important tobacco merchant in England.

Lyde was born in Bristol, a major port city, where his father had served as mayor. His family had significant business interests, including tobacco plantations in Virginia (which was then an American colony). These plantations, like many at the time, relied on the labor of enslaved people. The Lyde family's wealth also came from their involvement in trade across the Atlantic Ocean.

Historic England describes Lyde as a successful tobacco merchant and a director of the Bank of England. Lyonel and his brother Samuel worked together, managing their family's business affairs in London. Lyonel became a director of the Bank of England in the 1760s. Later, the American War of Independence made the tobacco trade much more difficult.

Lyde's Homes and Buildings

Lyonel Lyde bought a large country estate in Ayot St Lawrence. This estate had previously belonged to his uncle and father-in-law, Cornelius Lyde. Lyonel made big changes there. He partly took down the old church and built a brand new one. This new church, called St Lawrence's, was built in a neo-classical style. It even had two special burial places, called mausolea, for himself and his wife, Rachel.

Lyde and his brother also rented houses in Bedford Square. This was a very fashionable and new area in London at the time.

Becoming a Baronet

In 1772, Lyonel Lyde was given a special title: a baronetcy. This meant he became Sir Lyonel Lyde, 1st Baronet. However, when he passed away in 1791, the baronetcy ended because he had no direct heir to inherit it.

The Ayot House estate then went to other relatives. Some of these relatives even changed their last name to Lyde to continue the family name. For example, Lionel Ames, who inherited the estate in 1806, took on the surname and family symbols of Lyde.