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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 1030 Collections and/or Records:

Letters from Jordan, James B. to Charles Lyell, 17 January 1862 - 16 October 1862

 File — Box Box 1.8: Series Coll-203/1 (Lyell 1)
Identifier: Coll-203/1/149
Scope and Contents

Submerged maps of Scotland, Ireland, Kent and England - Tracing paper with signature - Large and small versions. Possily relate to letters from Jamieson with missing maps.

Dates: 17 January 1862 - 16 October 1862

Letters from Judd, John Wesley to Charles Lyell, 10 June 1871 - 3 December 1874

 File — Box Box 1.8: Series Coll-203/1 (Lyell 1)
Identifier: Coll-203/1/150
Scope and Contents From the Series: This series of correspondence is arranged alphabetically, A-Z, including one ‘Miscellaneous’ section within the 'M' series. Each correspondent has been assigned a file number – there may be several folders within that file, evidencing the longevity and depth of the relationship between Lyell and the correspondent - for example his brother in law Charles Bunbury.Lyell himself, Mary or Arabella Buckley have mostly recorded a summary of the contents of the correspondence, either on the...
Dates: 10 June 1871 - 3 December 1874

Letters from Jukes, Joseph Beete to Charles Lyell, 6 December 1860 - 7 September 1862

 File — Box Box 1.8: Series Coll-203/1 (Lyell 1)
Identifier: Coll-203/1/151
Scope and Contents From the Series: This series of correspondence is arranged alphabetically, A-Z, including one ‘Miscellaneous’ section within the 'M' series. Each correspondent has been assigned a file number – there may be several folders within that file, evidencing the longevity and depth of the relationship between Lyell and the correspondent - for example his brother in law Charles Bunbury.Lyell himself, Mary or Arabella Buckley have mostly recorded a summary of the contents of the correspondence, either on the...
Dates: 6 December 1860 - 7 September 1862

Letters from Keilhau, Baltazar Mathias to Charles Lyell, 31 August 1837

 File — Box Box 1.8: Series Coll-203/1 (Lyell 1)
Identifier: Coll-203/1/152
Scope and Contents From the Series: This series of correspondence is arranged alphabetically, A-Z, including one ‘Miscellaneous’ section within the 'M' series. Each correspondent has been assigned a file number – there may be several folders within that file, evidencing the longevity and depth of the relationship between Lyell and the correspondent - for example his brother in law Charles Bunbury.Lyell himself, Mary or Arabella Buckley have mostly recorded a summary of the contents of the correspondence, either on the...
Dates: 31 August 1837

Letters from Keller, Ferdinand to Charles Lyell, 8 June 1863

 File — Box Box 1.8: Series Coll-203/1 (Lyell 1)
Identifier: Coll-203/1/153
Scope and Contents

Keller to Wylie on Lake Dwellings.

Dates: 8 June 1863

Letters from Khanikof, Nikolaĭ de to Charles Lyell, 25 January 1871 - 15 February 1871

 File — Box Box 1.8: Series Coll-203/1 (Lyell 1)
Identifier: Coll-203/1/154
Scope and Contents

Refers to M. Brandt's letters, which are enclosed, and in German.

Dates: 25 January 1871 - 15 February 1871

Letters from King, Rev. Samuel William to Charles Lyell, 15 June 1862 - February 1872

 File — Box Box 1.8: Series Coll-203/1 (Lyell 1)
Identifier: Coll-203/1/155
Scope and Contents

Tower photographs possibly in Cromer. Sketches of flint. Some letters are address to Lady Lyell.

Dates: 15 June 1862 - February 1872

Letters from King, William to Charles Lyell, 3 April 1861

 File — Box Box 1.8: Series Coll-203/1 (Lyell 1)
Identifier: Coll-203/1/156
Scope and Contents From the Series: This series of correspondence is arranged alphabetically, A-Z, including one ‘Miscellaneous’ section within the 'M' series. Each correspondent has been assigned a file number – there may be several folders within that file, evidencing the longevity and depth of the relationship between Lyell and the correspondent - for example his brother in law Charles Bunbury.Lyell himself, Mary or Arabella Buckley have mostly recorded a summary of the contents of the correspondence, either on the...
Dates: 3 April 1861

Letters from Koenen, Adolf von to Charles Lyell, 24 March 1865

 File — Box Box 1.8: Series Coll-203/1 (Lyell 1)
Identifier: Coll-203/1/157
Scope and Contents From the Series: This series of correspondence is arranged alphabetically, A-Z, including one ‘Miscellaneous’ section within the 'M' series. Each correspondent has been assigned a file number – there may be several folders within that file, evidencing the longevity and depth of the relationship between Lyell and the correspondent - for example his brother in law Charles Bunbury.Lyell himself, Mary or Arabella Buckley have mostly recorded a summary of the contents of the correspondence, either on the...
Dates: 24 March 1865

Letters from Koninck, Laurent-Guillaume de to Charles Lyell, 25 December 1851-19 January 1874

 File — Box Box 1.8: Series Coll-203/1 (Lyell 1)
Identifier: Coll-203/1/158
Scope and Contents From the Series: This series of correspondence is arranged alphabetically, A-Z, including one ‘Miscellaneous’ section within the 'M' series. Each correspondent has been assigned a file number – there may be several folders within that file, evidencing the longevity and depth of the relationship between Lyell and the correspondent - for example his brother in law Charles Bunbury.Lyell himself, Mary or Arabella Buckley have mostly recorded a summary of the contents of the correspondence, either on the...
Dates: 25 December 1851-19 January 1874