Born in Dundee in early 1762, Lyon was the eldest daughter of Agnes (née) Hamilton and John Ramsay L'Amy of Dunkenny, Forfarshire.
She was an accomplished verse-writer[1] and poet filling four manuscript volumes, which she directed at her death to remain unprinted, unless her family needed financial support.
[2] Her poetry was frequently humorous,[3] for instance, her 1821 verse Glammis Castle tells of a drunken episode involving Sir Walter Scott.
[4] Within the towers of ancient Glammis Some merry men did dine, And their host took care they should richly fare, In friendship, wit, and wine.
In some collections it is incorrectly printed; in Charles Rogers' Scottish Minstrel it is given from the original manuscript.