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.
Scope and Contents
This notebook was kept by Lyell on a trip to Sweden. It comprises notes on rise of land in Sweden - marks on rocks, etc. Notes are in ink and pencil, and include sketches, lists, observations. Page 55 includes a list of questions Lyell wishes to know the local dialect for, providing an insight into his travels and his work. There are multiple blank pages. The following table of contents is Lyell's own words, copied from Lyell's own...
Scope and Contents
This black leather notebook contains Lyell's notes on discussions with Richard Owen and William Lonsdale. Subjects are highly diverse and notes are made predominantly in ink. The index is organised pages related to dicussion with Owen and Lonsdale and is written in the last few pages of the book. The front cover is blank. The following table of contents is Lyell's own words, copied from Lyell's own "Index", found at the beginning and end...
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...
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...
Scope and Contents
This black leather notebook contains Charles Lyell's notes from Switzerland, Thun to Kublisbad, mostly in pencil, some ink pen. The notebook contains some sketches, including of Jungfrau summit of the Bernese Alps. The index is pasted to the back cover and the front cover is labeled with the following: "No. 59, Aug[ust] 10th to 22nd 1835. Switzerland. Thun to Kublisbad." The following table of contents is Lyell's own words, copied from...
Scope and Contents
This blue leather notebook, contains Lyell's notes from Oberhansen, Switzerland to Bonn, Prussia. The front plate reads "No 60 August 22nd to September 20th 1835", and the index is pasted to the back cover. Contents are geological observations with sketches mostly in pencil, some ink. 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...
Scope and Contents
This black leather notebook contains notes from Lyell's trip to Denmark, and from meeting with Dr. Heinrich Beck. There are also notes on scholarship and news from other notable natural history correspondents. Notes are in a mixture of pencil and ink, there are some sketches, and multiple blank pages. The index is pasted to the back page, and the front cover is blank. The following table of contents is Lyell's own words, copied from...
Scope and Contents
In this green leather notebook, Lyell's notes focus on Scottish and British geology, and planning for Principles and Elements of Geology. He and Mary visit the Isle of Arran for the first time, their visit referenced in Leonard Wilson's book. Spectacular drawings of Goatfell, envisioning lava veins, as well as line drawings of the landscape. Notes are written in pencil and ink, with tables, illustrations, lists, and draft letters. The...
Lyell's Own Index
This black leather notebook contains Lyell's notes on current scholarship from other well-known natural history colleagues, including Darwin, Deshayes, Blackadder, Owen, and more. Notes are made in pencil and ink with some sketches. The index is pasted to the back cover, and the front cover is blank. This notebook has a reference in the index on page 56, to 'Darwin St Helena Shells' which links to a specimen held by the Cockburn Geological Museum reference EUCM.0180.2013....
Scope and Contents
Of dark green leather, this notebook contains Charles Lyell's thoughts and observations while on a trip to Copenhagen with his wife Mary Lyell. On the front cover is written "London - Copenhagen April to June 1837 A". In the inside cover Lyell's address is written; "Mr C Lyell 16 Hart Street Bloomsbury Square". Contents include lists of queries and views held by specific individuals, observations in prose, and sketch illustrations. The notebook is written in red and black ink and...
