He was the son of Theophilus Lynch Esq of Rixton Hall in Lancashire (born 1603), fourth son of William Lynch Esq of
Cranbrook in
Kent, and of his wife Judith, eldest daughter of Royal chaplain and Bishop of London
John Aylmer. He served under
Robert Venables in the army which went out to
Jamaica in 1655. In January 1661, after a period back in England he was appointed
provost-marshal of the island for life. In December 1662 Lynch was lieutenant-colonel of the 5th regiment of militia; in April 1663 was sworn in as a member of council, and in April 1664 elected president of the council in the absence of
Sir Charles Lyttelton. In June 1664
Sir Thomas Modyford became governor, and Lynch was again sworn of the council. Shortly Modyford wrote to his brother,
Sir James Modyford, then in England, asking him to get the
Duke of Albemarle to appoint a sheriff, instead of a provost-marshal; but on 12 February 1665 Lynch wrote to
Lord Arlington complaining that the governor had discharged him from the council and the office of chief justice without giving any public reason. Jamaica's buccaneers had been encouraged by Modyford. Under Lynch they acted under the governor's commission, including
Henry Morgan; and the king claimed his share of the Spanish plunder. Diplomatic complaints from the Spanish government, however, compelled the English government to give way. Lynch was recalled, apparently in 1676, and
Lord Vaughan was sent out with orders to suppress the pirates and put an end to piracy. In 1682 Lynch was again sent out to Jamaica as governor and captain-general, with similar instructions regarding piracy, and these he carried out severely. Under Lynch and Morgan, the colonial authorities tried in vain to defeat the
Jamaican Maroons of
Juan de Serras, but the Maroons just withdrew further into the
Blue Mountains, out of the reach of the colonial militias. Lynch died, apparently in 1684, some time before the death of Charles II was known in the colony. Already ill, Lynch was incensed at captured pirate
Joseph Bannister having evaded conviction on legal technicalities and died immediately after the infuriating and unsuccessful trial. He was buried in the cathedral of Jamaica, beneath a black marble slab. ==Family==