Ernest A. Lyon (October 22, 1860 – July 17, 1938)[notes 1] was an African-American minister, educator and diplomat.

From 1881 to 1883, he attended the Gilbert Seminary while serving as the pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Baldwin, later called Winston.

[4] It was here that he met his first wife, Abbie J. Wright who reluctantly married Lyon in a wedding officiated by Rev.

[1] While pastor of St. Mark's Church, Lyon was the only African American among 300 members of the New York Conference.

[5] In 1901, Lyon was the pastor of the John Wesley Methodist Episcopal Church in Baltimore, Maryland.

[6] The civil rights leader Booker T. Washington recommended Lyon to President Theodore Roosevelt, who appointed him U.S. Minister and Consul General to Liberia in 1903.

Following his diplomatic service, he returned to Baltimore to become the minister of Ames Methodist Episcopal Church.

Lyon was "member committee" for the Negro Historical and Industrial Association which "invited President Woodrow Wilson to deliver address on opening day of 50th anniversary exposition and celebration of emancipation at Fort Lee, Virginia.

"[1] Lyons was one of ten people to represent the intellectual contributions of African Americans in an international lecture course hosted by the Maryland State Department of Education in Baltimore.