John Lyon was an educated man who lived at Harrow on the Hill in North West London. As a wealthy farmer, he was able to endow Harrow School which was founded in 1572, and this led to the creation of The John Lyon School. He established a trust for the maintenance of Harrow Road and Edgware Road. Since these roads are now owned and maintained by the council, the income from his estate is controlled by John Lyon's Charity who give grants to various projects in the Harrow area.
John Lyon lived at Preston which is "...a hamlet in the parish of Harrow-on-the-Hill".
He died in 1592 and there are brasses of himself and wife in the church of St Mary's, Harrow on the Hill.