William Lygon, 1st Earl Beauchamp

Lygon was the son of Reginald Lygon (originally Reginald Pyndar), of Madresfield Court, Worcestershire, son of Reginald Pyndar and Margaret Lygon, daughter of William Lygon, of Madresfield Court, a descendant of Richard Lygon, of Madresfield Court, husband of the Honourable Anne Beauchamp (d. 1535), second daughter and co-heiress of Richard Beauchamp, 2nd Baron Beauchamp ("of Powyk").

[2] Lygon was returned to Parliament as one of two representatives for Worcestershire in 1775, a seat he held until 1806,[2][3] when he was raised to the peerage as Baron Beauchamp of Powyke, in the County of Worcester.

[4] He was further honoured in 1815 when he was made Viscount Elmley, in the County of Gloucester, and Earl Beauchamp.

They had several children, including two British Army generals, Henry Lygon, 4th Earl Beauchamp and Edward Pyndar Lygon.

He died suddenly at St James's Square, London, in October 1816, aged 69, and was succeeded in the earldom by his eldest son, William.