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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 8 Collections and/or Records:

Notebook No.32, June 1830- July 1830

 Item — Box Lyell-temp-box 2: Series Coll-203/A1
Identifier: Coll-203/A1/32
Scope and Contents This brown leather notebook contains Lyell's notes on geology of France. The index, transcribed below, is adhered to the back cover, and the front cover is blank. The contents include Diagrams of mountain making, sketches of rocks, and a sketch of mountain range. 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...
Dates: June 1830- July 1830

Notebook No.57, 29 July 1834- July 1835

 Item — Box Lyell-temp-box 3: Series Coll-203/A1
Identifier: Coll-203/A1/57
Scope and Contents This black leather notebook contains Lyells notes, with citations, on Deshayes' book 'Description des coquilles fossiles des environs de Paris'. The notebook also contains notes on Kinnordy, London, and Paris. Addresses of correspondents are throughout the notebook and referenced in Lyell's Own Index. The index is pasted to the back cover, and the front cover reads "No 57, July 1834 to July 1835, Kinnordy, London, Paris". The following...
Dates: 29 July 1834- July 1835

Notebook No.58, 2 July 1835- August 1835

 Item — Box Lyell-temp-box 3: Series Coll-203/A1
Identifier: Coll-203/A1/58
Scope and Contents This black leather notebook contains notes from Charles Lyell on geological observations in Britain, Paris and Neufchatel. Adddresses of correspondents are throughout the notebook, and referenced in Lyell's Own Index. The index is pasted to the back cover, and the front cover reads "No 58, July + August 1835, Paris + Neufchatel". The following table of contents is Lyell's own words, copied from Lyell's own "Index", found at the beginning...
Dates: 2 July 1835- August 1835

Notebook No.79, 21 October 1839- February 1840

 Item — Box Lyell-temp-box 4: Series Coll-203/A1
Identifier: Coll-203/A1/79
Scope and Contents This dark leather notebook contains Charles Lyell's notes in pencil and ink, field notes, thinking and 'to do' lists. There are many references to Darwin; 'Elements' published - and page 79 includes workings on edits. Index is in written in alphabetical order at the back of the notebook. The front and back covers are blank. The following table of contents is Lyell's own words, copied from Lyell's own "Index", found at the beginning and...
Dates: 21 October 1839- February 1840

Notebook No.81, 26 June 1840-11 July 1840

 Item — Box Lyell-temp-box 4: Series Coll-203/A1
Identifier: Coll-203/A1/81
Scope and Contents This brown leather notebook contains field notes mostly in pencil, multiple blank pages, geological descriptions of clay pits and visits to Faluns of the Loire, France. Index is located p. 111-113, front and back cover are both blank. 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: 26 June 1840-11 July 1840

Notebook No.82, 12 July 1840-29 July 1840

 Item — Box Lyell-temp-box 4: Series Coll-203/A1
Identifier: Coll-203/A1/82
Scope and Contents This brown leather notebook contains notes by Lyell during travels in France. Notes are a mix of field notes in pencil and ink, and include lists of fossils and specimens, multiple blank pages, and some sketches. The index is on p.113-116, and both covers are blank. 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...
Dates: 12 July 1840-29 July 1840

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.87, February 1841- June 1841

 Item — Box Lyell-temp-box 4: Series Coll-203/A1
Identifier: Coll-203/A1/87
Scope and Contents This dark leather notebook contains Charles Lyell's notes which appear to be continuation of discussion on Touraine shells, notes of list of books to go to America, notes on correspondence sent and received, and notes on lectures. On p. 106 Lyell makes reference to Timothy Abbot Conrad's New York Geological Survey of 1840. The covers of the notebook are blank, the index is written on the last pages of the book. The following table of...
Dates: February 1841- June 1841