William Lygon, 2nd Earl Beauchamp

William Beauchamp Lygon, 2nd Earl Beauchamp FRS (1783 – 12 May 1823), styled The Honourable William Lygon between 1806 and 1815 and Viscount Elmley between 1815 and 1816, was a British politician.

Early life
Lygon was the son of William Lygon, 1st Earl Beauchamp, and Catherine Denn, daughter of James Denn. He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford.

Military career
On 19 August 1803 he was commissioned as Lieutenant-Colonel and second-in-commamd of the South Worcester Volunteers. When the regiment became the South Worcester Local Militia he was commissioned as its Lt-Col Commandant on 20 September 1809.

Parliament
In 1806 he was returned to parliament as one of two representatives for Worcestershire (succeeding his father), a seat he held until 1816 when he entered the House of Lords on inheriting the earldom from his father. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society on 6 December 1810.

Death
Lord Beauchamp died at Madresfield Court, near Malvern, Worcestershire, in May 1823. He was unmarried and was succeeded in the earldom by his younger brother, John. His library was sold at auction by R. H. Evans in London on 15 January 1824 and 8 following days; a copy of the catalogue is at Cambridge University Library (shelfmark Munby.c.127(2)).