Lindley was born in Lima in 1908 to an upper-class family of English descent, and he studied at the Anglo-Peruvian School (Colegio San Andrés).

They installed a military government, initially headed by Pérez with Lindley as the minister of defense.

When Pérez showed an inclination to stay in power for longer than originally foreseen, he was overthrown by Lindley on March 3, 1963.

Lindley stayed in power until July 28 that year when the election winner Fernando Belaúnde took over the presidency.

He then retired from politics and military life, and later returned to Peru, where he lived until his death at the age of 86.