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.
Scope and Contents
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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The notebook contains Charles Lyell’s notes from May to June 11th 1844 while in London. It then continues through June 13th to July 27th in Scotland. Much of the content is about an upcoming trip to the United States - and also covers research on Canada. Notes are in pencil and ink. The notebook index is located in the back of the notebook on pages 112-115. Pages 67-72 is an Essay on the 'Constitution of the United States'. Lyell's own index...
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This notebook contains Charles Lyell’s notes from 1 August to 18 September 1844 while in London. It then continues through 26 September to 2 October in York. He visits T.S. Spedding at Mirehouse on Bassenthwaite. The final section of the notebook, through 21 October, pertains to Lyell and Michael Faraday’s participation in an inquiry of the 1844 Haswell coal mine explosion that killed 95 people. Notes are in a mixture of pencil and ink. The notebook index is located in the back of the...
Scope and Contents
This notebook contains Charles Lyell’s notes from September 19, 1844 to April 30, 1845 while in London. The index is located in the back of the notebook on pages 113-114. Notes are in pencil and ink – and there are several different hands writing in this notebook including Mary Lyell. The Notebook starts with a continuation of the work relating to the Haswell Pit Disaster. There are many notes relating to the United States and Lyell's manuscript for his book 'Travels in North America,...
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This notebook contains Charles Lyell’s notes from May 4th to August 1845 while in London and at Kinnordy in Scotland. The index is located in the back of the notebook on pages 113-117. Notes are in pencil and ink. Content warning: Lyell uses his Scientific Notebooks to gather evidence, based on both his own observation, by reviewing other people's works, by correspondence, asking questions and analyses. The language used in this index is...
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This notebook contains Charles Lyell’s notes from Sept 2nd to 14th, 1845 and is noted at the front as being written while in London and aboard the Steamship Britannia. The index is located in the back of the notebook on pages 109-113 and two unnumbered pages. Notes are in pencil and ink. The Steamship Britannia refers to the Cunard Line's RMS Britannia, which began her first regular passenger and cargo service in 1840, sailing from Liverpool to Boston. ...
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This notebook contains a record of Charles and Mary Lyell’s visit to the United States of America, from the end of the voyage on RMS Britannia and their arrival in Boston, to the beginning of their travels throughout parts of New England. The Lyells travel from Boston, Massachusetts to Lynn, Salem, Wenham Lake to New Hampshire, Portsmouth and the White Mountains finally to Maine, Kennebeck [sic Kennebec] River, Gardiner and Portland.
The notes are comprised of commentary about politics...
Scope and Contents
This notebook contains a record of Charles Lyell’s visit to the United States of America (started in previous notebook, Number 121), continuing his travels throughout parts of New England, including Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire. 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, and field notes and observations, including some sketches, of the natural history of the...
Scope and Contents
This notebook contains a record of Charles Lyell’s visit to the United States of America (started in notebook, Number 121), continuing his travels throughout parts of New England, including New Hampshire and Vermont. 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, and field notes and observations, including some sketches, of the natural history of the visited regions. Notes...
Scope and Contents
This notebook contains a record of Charles Lyell’s visit to the United States of America (started in notebook, Number 121) continuing his travels throughout parts of New England, including Massachusetts with notable site visits in and around Boston and New Hampshire. It is dated from October 12 to November 3, 1845. For the last two thirds of this notebook (and the entirety of the next one, notebook 125) Lyell is centred in Boston for the presentation of his Lowell Lectures, embarking on...
