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 explained 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.
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This notebook contains Charles Lyell’s notes from January to May 1844 while in London. Notes are in pencil and ink. The notebook index is located in the back of the notebook on pages 112-115. From pp.20-22, 32 - with Darwin Transcription note: 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...
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This notebook contains Charles Lyell’s notes from December 3, 1845 to December 12, 1845 upon leaving Boston and traveling to Philadelphia, with visits in New Haven, Connecticut and New York City, and further enroute to Washington, D.C. The notes are comprised of discussions about politics and religion, supplemented by commentary about social life, in New England and the United States more broadly, plus field notes, observations, and sketches concerned with geology and natural history,...
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This black notebook contains a record of Charles Lyell’s geological travels around Madeira with Georg Hartung, in the company of Mary Lyell, and Charles and Frances Bunbury. This notebook is from February 1854 and covers Charles Lyell’s travels around the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo with specific notes on Sao Vicente, Curral das Freiras, Pico Santo, Santo António, Pico Ruivo, Funchal, Pico Grande, Câmara de Lobos, Boqueirão, Santa Cruz, Porto Novo, Pico dos Bodes, Caminho do Pico da...
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This red notebook contains a record of Charles Lyell’s geological travels around the Canary Islands with Georg Hartung, in the company of Mary Lyell, and Charles and Frances Bunbury, and along with previous notebook 193, is one of the longest. There is a clear date noted on page 1, of 6th March 1854, however, in the separate index recorded in the Madeira Index reference Coll-203/A5/16 dates are given there as 26th – 29th October 1855 – which may reflect the date the index was created. This...
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This green leather bound Notebook records Lyell's travels in Aberdeenshire then on down the East coast to Scarborough, Filey, Cromer and Diss. Page 71 onwards are Lyell's notes on Darwin's 'Creation of Species' with further discussion thereafter. There is a black and white photograph of Roydon Oolite on page 171. Page 74 references a specimen Cephalaspis lyelli Agassiz at Glammis, now held by the Cockburn Museum. Lyell's Own Index...
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Teal coloured leather Notebook documents Lyell’s travels from Liege to Bonn, Weimar to London. During this time, he is preparing the manuscript for his ‘The Antiquity of Man’. The research in this Notebook significantly changes his plans for the manuscript. The importance of this Notebook is highlighted by Claudine Cohen in the article ‘Charles Lyell and the evidences of the Antiquity of Man’ published 1998. Transcription note The following...
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This dark red Notebook details Lyell's travels in Bavaria, Germany, joined by Mary, Leonard Lyell, his secretary Arabella Buckley, and expert companions. The book contains detailed drawings, notes and queries. The itinerary begins on page 4 on 8th June 1865 in London, before Lyell travels to Dover, Calais, Luxembourg, Burgen, Coblenz, Frankfurt then to Kissengen, Nuremberg. Munich, Innsbruck, Klobenstein, Finsterbach, Eiggshorn, Viesch and Aletsch Glaciers before descending into Italy,...
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This dark red Notebook starts in London with Mary and Leonard Lyell, and documents travels in Pembrokeshire, Wales, with an index created by Arabella Buckley. Lyell studies submerged forests, beaches, caves and iron works making notes and sketches, and referencing experts as well as local guides. Several meetings 'with Darwin'. Final pages relate to Grindle Pit, Bury St Edmunds, with sections written by Buckley that appear to be dictated by Lyell. ...
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This dark red Notebook is annotated with Lyell's name, address at 73 Harley Street, London. The Notebook documents work based along the coast of Norfolk, as Lyell travels with Mary [presumed as she is not mentioned], Buckley and his nephew Leonard Lyell - who is credited with observations and finds. From Norfolk, they head to Hull and Withernsea. In this Notebook, not every page is numbered. This Notebook contains sections where Buckley describes their field work, recording observations like...
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This dark green notebook contains Charles Lyell’s notes from 20 April 1869 to 10 September 1869. Lyell starts in England and travels through Cambridgeshire, Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria, with special attention to the Lake District. He then travels to Scotland, and from Edinburgh through Perthshire and the Highlands. Transcription note: This notebook was written by Charles, Mary and Arabella Buckley. The index is written entirely by...
