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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 10 Collections and/or Records:

Geology of Vesuvius and Etna extracted from the letters of Charles Lyell, September and October 1858

 Item
Identifier: Coll-203/4/26
Scope and Contents Material relating to the geology of Mount Vesuvius in Southern Italy and Mount Etna in Sicily as extracted from the letters of Sir Charles Lyell, written during a visit to the area in September and October 1858. He discusses several geological formations in the mountains and occasionally gives sketches to illustrate his points. He also mentions: that he has received a list of shells from the Pliocene clay on which Mount Etna is placed which he hopes will provide a precise paleontological...
Dates: September and October 1858

Lava flow at Messina, Sicily, 9 November 1857

 Item
Identifier: Coll-203/4/2
Scope and Contents

Document written by Sir Charles Lyell at Messina on the Island of Sicily describing his visit there in the autumn of 1857. The bulk of the document is spent describing the way lava flows down both steep and gentle slopes and specifically discusses the lava flow resulting from the 9 month long eruption of 1852/3. In addition he discusses the formation of the Val del Bove, 9 November 1857.

Dates: 9 November 1857

Letter to Leonard Horner from Sir Charles Lyell, 10 December 1857

 Item
Identifier: Coll-203/4/3
Scope and Contents

Letter to Leonard Horner from Sir Charles Lyell discusing the internal structure of lava flows. Lyell also remarks on the probable nature of the additions to the core of Mount Vesuvius that had occurred that year, with illustrations, 10 December 1857.

Dates: 10 December 1857

Letter to Sir Charles Lyell from Carlo Gemmellaro, 1 May 1858

 Item
Identifier: Coll-203/4/20
Scope and Contents Letter to Sir Charles Lyell from Carlo Gemmellaro, principally replying to a letter sent to him by Lyell. He mentions the thickness and incline of lava flows of the Balzo of Aci Reale coming down from the side of Mount Etna, with sketch. He answers specific questions that Lyell has put to him in a previous letter regarding details of Gemmellaro's theory, stating that he does not feel himself obliged to accept the opinions of Waltershausen and mentions the discovery of some rocks at a beach...
Dates: 1 May 1858

Letter to Sir Charles Lyell from Carlo Gemmellaro, 16 April 1858

 Item
Identifier: Coll-203/4/19
Scope and Contents Letter to Sir Charles Lyell from Carlo Gemmellaro relating to the geology of the Mount Etna area. Gemmellaro states that Lyell is soon to receive a map copied from Waltershausen's marked with the profile of the extension of the 1852 lava. He mentions his brother's [Giuseppe] gratefulness for Lyell's subscription to the English house at Mount Etna and discusses lava flow at the Balyo di Aci Reale, with map. Apologises for being unable to provide Lyell with measurements for this but states...
Dates: 16 April 1858

Letter to Sir Charles Lyell from Carlo Gemmellaro, 8 April 1858

 Item
Identifier: Coll-203/4/18
Scope and Contents Letter to Sir Charles Lyell from Carlo Gemmellaro regarding his volcanic research on Mount Etna. Gemmellaro mentions his respect for the topographical works of Baron Waltershausen but states that the only fault he saw in Waltershausen during his stay in Sicily was the Baron's disregard for the learned Sicilian people. Discusses the geology of Aci Reale, in particular the strata of lava on which the village rests; Baron Waltershausen thought there were only 2 layers, Gemmellaro believes he...
Dates: 8 April 1858

Letter to Sir Charles Lyell from Carlo Gemmellaro, 25 March 1858

 Item
Identifier: Coll-203/4/17
Scope and Contents Letter to Sir Charles Lyell from Carlo Gemmellaro in answer to a previous letter sent by Lyell. He apologises for not being able to answer Lyell's questions as he has been ill and promises that he will return to Aci to try to detect Wolfgang Sartorius Von Waltershausen's mistakes as to what Mercurio says on the eruption of 1852. He mentions carboniferous soil in Sicily, local units of measurement and lava flow on the island. He also thanks Lyell for sending a printed abstract of the...
Dates: 25 March 1858

Notebook No.110, 25 June 1843 - 7 July 1843

 Item — Box Lyell-temp-box 4: Series Coll-203/A1
Identifier: Coll-203/A1/110
Scope and Contents This notebook contains a record of Charles Lyell's travels through France (continued from previous notebooks, Number 108, 109 and concluded in following notebook, Number 111), including Tartaret volcano and Lake Chambon, a volcanic dam lake created by its eruption, in Puy-de-Dôme. It is dated June 25 to July 7, 1843. Notes are written in pencil and ink and are primarily field notes and observations with numerous sketches. The index is located in the back of the notebook on pages 113-116 plus...
Dates: 25 June 1843 - 7 July 1843

Notebook No.239, 29 July 1859-11 August 1859

 Item — Box Lyell-temp-box 8: Series Coll-203/A1
Identifier: Coll-203/A1/239
Scope and Contents This red leather bound notebook contains Charles Lyell's notes from his travels through France - Amiens - Paris - Le Puy. Notes are in pencil and ink and are primarily daily journal entries. The index is located at the back of the notebook. Lyell's own index July 1859 Index - Amiens & Paris p. 6 and 7 Amiens - levels obtained by Prestwich of heights at Abbeville p. 8. Lartet's address. p. 10. M....
Dates: 29 July 1859-11 August 1859

Translation of a letter from Gaetano Gemmellaro, 1850s

 Item
Identifier: Coll-203/4/29
Scope and Contents

Translation of a letter from Gaetano Gemmellaro concerning the gradual elevation of the coast of Sicily, the inclination of lava flows, the origin of the Balzo D'Aci which he thinks was affected by an Earthquake and fossil shells found in the Pleistocene beds of Cefali, Sematica and other places in Sicily by himself, Phillipi and Professor Aradas. 1850s.

Dates: 1850s