Dates
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Existence: 14 November 1797
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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:
Sub-Series
Identifier: Coll-74/11/15
Scope and Contents
The Correspondence from Gabriell Auguste Daubrée sub-series consists of:
- 22 letters, chronologically arranged (1874-1896)
Dates:
1874-1896
Item — Box Lyell-temp-box 1: Series Coll-203/A1
Identifier: Coll-203/A1/5
Scope and Contents
This notebook, of worn brown leather, contains geological notes and observations likely written from Lyell's reading papers and journals. Some notes on the law profession. The cover reads 'Inside. D. July 1927' in large script. 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...
Dates:
July 1827- August 1827
Item — Box Lyell-temp-box 1: Series Coll-203/A1
Identifier: Coll-203/A1/13
Scope and Contents
This brown leather notebook is written in daily entries with full page detailed sketches, and contains notes on geology of Montpellier and Nice, reflections on geological processes and the extension of Rhone delta. On pp.76-78 Lyell writes an analogy between history and geology; p.79 is titled "One state of Nature dependant on another". Front plate: No 6, France, Montpelier, to Grosail. July 24th to Aug 23rd 1828. Written in pencil and ink. ...
Dates:
24 July 1828-23 August 1828
Item — Box Lyell-temp-box 1: Series Coll-203/A1
Identifier: Coll-203/A1/23
Scope and Contents
This notebook, of brown leather, covers Lyell's trip from Geneva to Paris. Clearly kept while traveling, Lyell's writing orientation changes frequently, ink blotches occasionally obscure text, and illustrations are sketched amongst observations. Contents include essays on Cosmogony, 'Duration of Species', 'Uniformity', role of a historical sketch, 'Creation of Species', 'Christianity & Science'. The following table of contents is...
Dates:
9 February 1829-9 February 1829
Item — Box Lyell-temp-box 2: Series Coll-203/A1
Identifier: Coll-203/A1/48
Scope and Contents
This brown leather notebook contains watercolour geological skylines. Loose leaf pages in the middle of the notebook list recipients of copies of 3rd and 4th editions of Principles of Geology; queries for M Graves, notes on 3rd edition, and queries for Deshayes. There are also cross-sections and fossil drawings. The front cover reads December 1832, and the index is pasted to the back. The following table of contents is Lyell's own words,...
Dates:
December 1832- December 1832
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
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
Item — Box Lyell-temp-box 4: Series Coll-203/A1
Identifier: Coll-203/A1/108
Scope and Contents
This notebook contains Lyell's observations while traveling from Shoreham, to Paris, to Angers, while visiting notable geological sites displaying "faluns", a stratum particular to France of shell beds from the Cenozoic period. He makes note of interactions with geologists Jules Desnoyers, Alexandre Brongniart, and Stokes, who is likely to be Charles Stokes. The notebook is mostly written in pencil, with illustrations by Lyell and Desnoyers. Locations: London - Shoreham -...
Dates:
23 May 1843-13 June 1843
Item
Identifier: Coll-203/A2/1
Scope and Contents
Journal of a tour made by Sir Charles Lyell in 1818 with his father, mother and his two older sisters. Pages are unnumbered, but there are dates throughout and the route is given at the top of every page. Lyell writes in a journal style, describing his excursions to geological sites, visits with his father - to visit botanists and a charity school - other people joining their trip (their encounter with a lady at Freiburg noted as 'one of the singular events of our tour'), and witnesses Lord...
Dates:
5 June 1818 - 2 Sept 1818
Item
Identifier: Coll-203/A2/2
Scope and Contents
Travel journal detailing tours with Professor Buckland, covering Kinnordy (1819), Paris (1823), and Cornwall with Prevost, (1824).The pages are unnumbered. In July, Lyell travels from Exeter to Lyme, Honiton to Axminster. Comments on beauty of area. On Saturday 3rd July he is at Lyme and 'called on Mary Anning' who discovered a large ichthyosaur 'a fortnight ago'. Prevost sketches it, and Anning states she think it will sell for £120. While there, Lyell witnessed 'entry of a newly discovered...
Dates:
1819-1824