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 red leather notebook continues Charles Lyell's work on studying and listing Crag and Touraine shells and specimens, continued from notebook 74, with GB Sowerby. Lyell appears to be based solely in London in the notebook. He notes queries for colleagues and observations on other's collections - Captain Alexander, Mr Bean, Mr Colchester, and Mrs. Power's [sic Madame Jeannette Power, who is noted in the Magazine of Natural history 1839 as having formed a collection of Argonauta in 1838]. A...
Scope and Contents
This dark maroon coloured leather notebook contains Lyell's notes including geological observations and sketches in pencil, some specimen lists and queries, many blank pages. The front cover is blank and the index is written in front and back inside covers. 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...
Scope and Contents
This dark maroon coloured leather notebook includes Charles Lyell's notes and geological observations and sketches in pencil. There are some specimen lists and queries, notes on fossil shells of Tertiary period. There are many blank pages. Index is located in the front and back inside covers. 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...
Scope and Contents
This dark maroon coloured leather notebook contains Charles Lyell's specimen lists, to do lists, notes from colleagues publications, sketches, many blank pages. Miscellaneous notes; pp.21-22 - References to Darwin's 'Glen Roy' paper. Front and back cover are blank, index is p. 115-6. 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 dark leather notebook contains Charles Lyell's notes in pencil and ink, field notes, thinking and 'to do' lists. There are many references to Darwin; 'Elements' published - and page 79 includes workings on edits. Index is in written in alphabetical order at the back of the notebook. The front and back covers are blank. The following table of contents is Lyell's own words, copied from Lyell's own "Index", found at the beginning and...
Scope and Contents
This brown leather notebooks contains inventories of shells and fossils, Lyell's thinking on geology. There are mentions of Darwin and Playfair; London and France; References to Darwin, Tertiary shells, etc. The index is on p. 113-116. 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....
Scope and Contents
This brown leather notebook contains field notes mostly in pencil, multiple blank pages, geological descriptions of clay pits and visits to Faluns of the Loire, France. Index is located p. 111-113, front and back cover are both blank. 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....
Scope and Contents
This brown leather notebook contains notes by Lyell during travels in France. Notes are a mix of field notes in pencil and ink, and include lists of fossils and specimens, multiple blank pages, and some sketches. The index is on p.113-116, and both covers are blank. 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...
Scope and Contents
This brown leather notebook contains notes on France, London, and Kinnordy, predominantly pencil in first part, containing field notes and multiple sketches of geological formations. Notes include significant list of Norwich Crag fossils sent to Dr Fleming, some drawings with use of colour evident; notes on glacial moraines observed in Angus with Dr. Buckland. Index on p. 113-116, both covers are blank. The following table of contents is...
Scope and Contents
This brown leather notebook contains Lyell's notes on Scottish geology, primarily near Kinnordy. Notes discuss geological formation of the Strath at Kinnordy, moraines that descend from the Grampians, and evidence of glacier activity. Notes are mostly pencil field notes and some sketches, occasional ink. The covers are blank and the index is on pp. 113-117. The following table of contents is Lyell's own words, copied from Lyell's own...
