Theodore Lyman II was an American philanthropist, politician, and author, born in Boston, the son of Theodore Lyman I and Lydia Pickering Williams. He graduated from Harvard University in 1810, visited Europe (1812–14), studied law, and with Edward Everett, revisited Europe in 1817–19. From 1819 to 1822 he was an aide to John Brooks, the Governor of Massachusetts. He became brigadier general of militia in 1823, and from 1820 to 1825 he served in the Massachusetts General Court.