The son of Vice-Admiral Sir George Tryon, he served for sixteen years in the Grenadier Guards, retiring as Major.
Tryon was elected for Brighton in 1910, serving until 1940. He became Under-Secretary of Air in 1919 and Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions in 1920 and in 1922 became a Privy Counsellor. He served as Minister of Pensions himself 1922-24, 1924-29 and 1931-35 and was then appointed Postmaster General in 1935, serving until 1940.
In April 1940, Tryon was elevated to the peerage as 1st Baron Tryon and made Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and First Commissioner of Works. However, he died a few months later.
He married Averil Vivian, daughter of Colonel Sir Henry Hussey Vivian, 1st Baron Swansea. They had two children, including Charles, 2nd Baron Tryon.