Lyell, Sir Charles, 1797-1875 (1st Baronet | Scottish geologist)
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 1132 Collections and/or Records:
Letters from Allan, Robert to Charles Lyell, 1 December 1829
Summary of plans for Icelandic excursion between Lyell and Allan. References to previous excursion undertaken by Sir George Mackenzie.
Letters from Andrews, Thomas to Charles Lyell, 18 December 1844
Lyell summarises the letter as 'Dr Andrews, Belfast 1845, presbytarian protest against Unitarian Professors'. Contains extract from Lardner's 'Geology', and a pamphlet 'Speech by Rev. James Morgan delivered at the Special Meeting of the General Assembly' held at Cookstown on Tues 17th September 1844, printed Wm McComb, Belfast.
Letters from Appleton & Co., to Charles Lyell, 1 February 1874
'Sales of 'Principles of Geology'. Cheque issued on Union Bank London for £27 13 1 in payment of above
Letters from Archiac, Adophe d' [EJAD] to Charles Lyell, 14 August 1839 - 3 April 1861
Lyell summaries the letters as:
1) Exchange of duplicates, Belgium etc.
2) On Crag duplicates sent to him
3) [? Cannot identify name] Amphistegina of Messina
4) On Horner's Address.
Letters from Argyll, Duke of, to Charles Lyell, 20 October 1869 - 9 June 1873
Thanks to Lyell for sharing more details as to the extent and service Hooker made to India Office. Condolences on the death of Mary E. Lyell.
Letters from Aymard, Auguste to Charles Lyell, 5 September 1859 - 11 November 1859
Two handwritten letters in French relating to the Fossil of Denise. Summary by Lyell on reverse includes reference to 'Ossiferous breccia [?] etiscor? [word hard to read - question mark is Lyell's].
Letters from Barrett, Lucas to Charles Lyell, 11 May 1858 -28 November 1858
A collection of three letters with an illustration sent by Lucas Barrett from Cambridge on bird bones and whales. The letters refer to bird bones that are crucial in understanding developed bird wings. The first letter has an illustration of a bird metacarpus by Barrett (May-November 1858). Summarised by Lyell as:
1) Bird's bone from upper Green Sand
2) Fossil bird upper Gr[een]. S[an]d. also Whales from Gr[een].
3) Bird bones in Kimmeridge Clay.
Letters from Bates, Henry Walter to Charles Lyell, 16 March 1863 - 19 March 1873
Letters from Bayfield, Henry Wolsey to Charles Lyell, 4 May 1834 - 24 February 1867
Letters from Beaumont, Gustave de, to Charles Lyell, 19th century
Two letters in French, addressed from Nutford House and 10 Devonshire Street.