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Lyell, Sir Charles, 1797-1875 (1st Baronet | Scottish geologist)

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 14 November 1797 - 22 February 1875

Biography

Charles Lyell Project - 2020

Biography

Sir Charles Lyell (1797-1875) wrote many geological papers, mainly published by the Geological Society of London (1807-present day), but his reputation rests almost entirely on his work Principles of Geology, ( 1830-1833) inspired in part by a European tour with Sir Roderick Impey Murchison and also his knowledge of James Hutton's Theory of the Earth. In this work, first published in three volumes, Lyell propounded his theory of uniformitarianism, which holds that all geological formations can be explianed solely in terms of natural processes which can be observed in operation today. This ran counter to the prevailing theory which assumed that mountain-building and other geological phenomena could only have occurred as a result of major cataclysmic events in the past. Lyell's uniformitarianism was developed in order to reject the progressionism implicit in the prevailing theory, which he saw as leading to evolution, an idea which he strongly opposed. Ironically, Lyell's opposition to evolution brought the idea to scientists' attention and the vast time scales required by uniformitarianism enabled Darwin to conceive of his version of evolutionary theory. Lyell's other works include: The Elements of Geology, ( 1837) Geological Evidences of the Antiquity of Man, ( 1863-1873).

Charles Lyell's father was an active naturalist, and Lyell had access to an elaborate library which included works on geology. Whilst at Oxford University he attended lectures by William Buckland, professor of geology, that triggered his enthusiasm for the subject. He became more and more interested in the subject and made many geological tours with his family in England and Scotland in 1817, and on the Continent the following year, the first of many trips abroad. In 1828 he explored the volcanic region of the Auvergne, then went to Mount Etna to gather supporting evidence for the theory of geology he would expound in his Principles of Geology . He also made numerous tours of the United States, described in Travels in North America, ( 1909) . His writings deal with the rock cycle, which explains how one type of rock is transformed into another. Lyell also expounds notions on volcanic forces, deposition, erosion and palaeontology in his writings. His work helped to establish the modern study of geology and geologic time. In addition to rock formation, he also wrote about palaeontology. It was Lyell who proposed the idea of reference fossils - fossils which are indicative of certain periods of geologic time. He divided geologic time into four periods: Pleistocene, Older Pliocene, Miocene and Eocene. His final work, The Antiquity of Man, ( 1863) , was a wide-ranging study of the human fossil record. In this work Lyell finally accepted Darwinian evolution, but still tried to insist that there was a radical discontinuity between humankind and the rest of the animal kingdom.

In 1823 Lyell was appointed secretary of the Geological Society of London, and 3 years later they made him their foreign secretary. He was twice President in 1836 and 1850. Lyell was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1826. He was awarded a Royal Medal in 1834 and the Copley Medal in 1858 and in 1866 he was awarded the Wollaston Medal. In 1832 he was the first professor of geology at King's College, London, and became President of the British Association in 1864.

Found in 19 Collections and/or Records:

Charles Lyell's Notebook, 1825-1826

 Item
Identifier: Coll-203/A2/4
Scope and Contents

From one side, geological notes, open from the opposite side up-side down, tables and charts showing barometrical heights and observations for Forfarshire. Lyell uses data gathered from barometers located in different places - for example [Kinnordy] 'House' Barometer, and [Blair] 'Mountain' Barometer for comparison.

Dates: 1825-1826

Coloured section of Forfarshire, from N.N.S. From Glen Moy Through the Bakie Loch to Dundee, c1822-1824

 Item
Identifier: Coll-203/3/3
Scope and Contents

Geological cross-section in watercolour and ink showing section from the sea at Dundee, over the Sidlaw Hills, Strathmore and the Grampians in Forfarshire. Scale: half an inch to a mile. c1822-1824
Image of this item:
https://images.is.ed.ac.uk/luna/servlet/view/search/what/Section+of+Part+of+Forfarshire?q=coll-203

Dates: c1822-1824

Extracts from Geological Works, 1824

 Item
Identifier: Coll-203/A2/3
Scope and Contents

Contains mostly extracts from select Geological Works, and some illustrations. Geological Works referred to include H[ar]burton on some beds of Shell Marle in Scotland; various authors on Bakie including Blackadder, Ogilvie; Humboldt's Personal Narrative. A number of pages blank, paginated.

Dates: 1824

Geological notes of Forfarshire, c1822-1824

 Item
Identifier: Coll-203/3/2
Scope and Contents

One Notebook with smaller notebook glued inside. Geological notes, pencil and ink sketches and cross sections, relating to work on Forfarshire c1822-1824.

Dates: c1822-1824

Geological Sections of Coast of Forfarshire, c1822-1824

 Item
Identifier: Coll-203/3/1
Scope and Contents

Notebook containing landscape sketches and annotated cross-sections of the coast of Forfarshire in pencil and watercolour, c1822-1824.

Dates: c1822-1824

Letter to Sir Charles Lyell from William Blackadder regarding the geology of Forfarshire, 16 March 1825

 Item
Identifier: Coll-203/3/25
Scope and Contents

Letter to Sir Charles Lyell from William Blackadder discussing various geological matters including the heights of diluvium in the Forfarshire area, the lochs in the Forfarshire area and his suspicions that land near Cortachie had once been a lake, marl deposition in the Forfarshire and Borders areas of Scotland and flints found in Aberdeenshire, 16 March 1825.

Dates: 16 March 1825

Letter to Sir Charles Lyell from W.L. Carnegie, 1841

 Item
Identifier: Coll-203/3/22
Scope and Contents Letter with envelope to Sir Charles Lyell from W. L. Carnegie asking for information and advice on geological matters. He requests that Lyell might tell him where to find publications of Lyell's work and which publication about Trap he should buy. He discusses his work at quarries near Newcastle and relates a story (with diagram) about contractors there. He also mentions that he has discovered a quarry with superior material and expects to be able to supply Arbroath with cheap, high quality...
Dates: 1841

Notebook No.83, 30 July 1840-12 October 1840

 Item — Box Lyell-temp-box 4: Series Coll-203/A1
Identifier: Coll-203/A1/83
Scope and Contents This brown leather notebook contains notes on France, London, and Kinnordy, predominantly pencil in first part, containing field notes and multiple sketches of geological formations. Notes include significant list of Norwich Crag fossils sent to Dr Fleming, some drawings with use of colour evident; notes on glacial moraines observed in Angus with Dr. Buckland. Index on p. 113-116, both covers are blank. The following table of contents is...
Dates: 30 July 1840-12 October 1840

Notebook No.84, 13 October 1840-19 October 1840

 Item — Box Lyell-temp-box 4: Series Coll-203/A1
Identifier: Coll-203/A1/84
Scope and Contents This brown leather notebook contains Lyell's notes on Scottish geology, primarily near Kinnordy. Notes discuss geological formation of the Strath at Kinnordy, moraines that descend from the Grampians, and evidence of glacier activity. Notes are mostly pencil field notes and some sketches, occasional ink. The covers are blank and the index is on pp. 113-117. The following table of contents is Lyell's own words, copied from Lyell's own...
Dates: 13 October 1840-19 October 1840

Notebook No.85, 21 October 1840-8 December 1840

 Item — Box Lyell-temp-box 4: Series Coll-203/A1
Identifier: Coll-203/A1/85
Scope and Contents This marbled paper and red leather notebook includes Charles Lyell's geological notes on Kinnordy and surrounding area, as well as other areas of Scotland, illustrated with a watercolor cross section on page 61. There are also 'to do' lists, notes on correspondence sent, meeting agendas and lists of persons to whom papers were sent, and notes on conversations with Agassiz. He makes more observations on glacial moraines, and lists of Faluns fossils. Notes are in pencil and ink and complete...
Dates: 21 October 1840-8 December 1840