Skip to main content

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 6 Collections and/or Records:

Minute Book No 7, 07 November 1867 - 18 March 1879

 Item — Volume MS 2918.1: Series Coll-43/1
Identifier: Coll-43/1/7
Scope and Contents Notebook containing minutes of ordinary meetings with 432 numbered pages. Full details of the Society's business is recorded including: details of honorary, corresponding and normal membership and diplomas awarded, reports from Annual General Meetings including details of office-bearers and their election, financial details, details of the publications of Transactions of the Edinburgh Geological Society, details of donations for the Society's museum and...
Dates: 07 November 1867 - 18 March 1879

Notebook No.2, 1825- 1826

 Item
Identifier: Coll-203/A1/2
Scope and Contents This notebook is complete, written by Lyell in ink, and featuring diverse subjects like fine art, museums, education, reform, and notes on geological advancements from Europe. The following table of contents is Lyell's own words, copied from Lyell's own "Index", found at the beginning and end of the notebook, transcribed from digital surrogates using the platform Transkribus. When known, Lyell's abbreviations and contractions have been...
Dates: 1825- 1826

Notebook No.29, July 1829- July 1829

 Item — Box Lyell-temp-box 2: Series Coll-203/A1
Identifier: Coll-203/A1/29
Scope and Contents This brown leather notebook contains geological notes on Scottish and Yorkshire geology, Edinburgh and Forfarshire, Newcastle and York. The index is adhered to the back cover, the front cover reads 2.4. The two has been struck through. The following table of contents is Lyell's own words, copied from Lyell's own "Index", found at the beginning and end of the notebook, transcribed from digital surrogates using the platform Transkribus....
Dates: July 1829- July 1829

Notebook No.30, August 1829- August 1829

 Item — Box Lyell-temp-box 2: Series Coll-203/A1
Identifier: Coll-203/A1/30
Scope and Contents This brown leather notebook contains diverse notes on British geology, and lists of queries for correspondents Blackadder, Humboldt, and Dr. Fleming. The front 3 pages are missing. Lyell's writing is a combination of steady, small copy hand, and hasty pencil observations. On p. 59, Lyell writes, "Hutton did not go as far as Moro". The list of questions on page 68 includes note 'Mrs. Murchison To ask Mary Anning for rate of waste at Lyme'. ...
Dates: August 1829- August 1829

Notebook No.43, August 1831- August 1831

 Item — Box Lyell-temp-box 2: Series Coll-203/A1
Identifier: Coll-203/A1/43
Scope and Contents This brown leather notebook contains Lyell's notes from London and Edinburgh, with lists including "luggage per steamboat" and packings lists, a draft of opening of a second volume, and a sketch of Edinburgh Castle hill with diagram of geological layers. Notes are written in pencil and ink, with many revisions. The front cover reads "August 1831, London, Edin[burgh]." The following table of contents is Lyell's own words, copied from...
Dates: August 1831- August 1831

Printed Papers, c.1829-1864

 Series — Box Lyell Temp Box 1.23 (Formerly Gen 119): Series Coll-203/8 (Lyell 8); Series Coll-203/9 (Lyell 9)
Identifier: Coll-203/9 (Lyell 9)
Scope and Contents Printed Papers consists of: address delivered by Sir Charles Lyell at the anniversary meeting of the Geological Society of London (1836) Lithology of the Environs of Edinburgh by Dr Fleming (1856-1857) Biographical notice of Sir Charles Lyell as President of the British Association for the Advancement of Science (1864) press cutting of letter from Sir...
Dates: c.1829-1864