Lyons's first major appointment came in December 1858 when he succeeded Lord Napier as British envoy to the United States in Washington.

One month previously, Lyons had succeeded to his father's titles: he arrived in the United States, two years before the outbreak of the American Civil War, as 2nd Baronet and 2nd Baron Lyons, of Christchuch, Hampshire.
He would later receive the higher noble titles of Viscount (1881) and Earl (1887).

The British Government considered Lyons to be the best choice for the position of Ambassador to the United States.
However, US President James Buchanan, ignorant of Lyons's precocious ability, was unhappy with the appointment as a consequence of Lord Lyons's young age and his few years as a diplomat: Buchanan stated that he wanted a “man whose character was known in this country."
It is likely that Buchanan was anxious because both of Lyons's predecessors at Washington, (Napier and Crampton), had been recalled because of scandals.
Lyons considered President Buchanan to be thoroughly inept and described him as ‘too weak to wring his hands’.
Lyons's first major appointment came in December 1858 when he succeeded Lord Napier as British envoy to the United States in Washington.
One month previously, Lyons had succeeded to his father's titles: he arrived in the United States, two years before the outbreak of the American Civil War, as 2nd Baronet and 2nd Baron Lyons, of Christchuch, Hampshire. He would later receive the higher noble titles of Viscount (1881) and Earl (1887).
The British Government considered Lyons to be the best choice for the position of Ambassador to the United States. However, US President James Buchanan, ignorant of Lyons's precocious ability, was unhappy with the appointment as a consequence of Lord Lyons's young age and his few years as a diplomat: Buchanan stated that he wanted a “man whose character was known in this country." It is likely that Buchanan was anxious because both of Lyons's predecessors at Washington, (Napier and Crampton), had been recalled because of scandals. Lyons considered President Buchanan to be thoroughly inept and described him as ‘too weak to wring his hands’.
Richard Lyons, 1st Viscount Lyons