Who is Charles Lyell?

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Charles Lyell

Charles Lyell was a British lawyer and one the smartest geologist known in his time. He was known as the author of the Principles of Geology, which helped popularize the theories and concepts of uniformitarianism. The Principles of Geology was the first book written by Lyell and explained the changes of the earth’s surface. He used the research and information in the book as his proof to determine that the earth was over 6,000 years old. The central argument in his book was “the present is the key to the past”, this meant that to find out what happened in the past you had to look at what was happening now. It explained that changes which happened in the past, were happening in the present, and will happen in the future. Lyell’s book was later published into three volumes from 1830-1833. After the publication, it gave him credentials as an important geological theorist. His book later influenced a young Charles Darwin. Lyell’s influential book led Darwin to follow his principles and they later became friends. Darwin began to explore the changes that happen on the earth and develop his theories of evolution, though Charles did not completely endorse Darwin’s theory of evolution. Lyell was a devout Christian and Darwin’s theory of evolution did not line up with his Lyell’s beliefs with natural selection. Darwin continued his research and beliefs of his own and became a scientist working with his theories of evolution.

Charles Lyell was born on November 14,1797 in Kinnordy, Scotland. Charles was the oldest of 10 children and his father, whose name was also Charles, was a lawyer and a botanist. Charles’ father was the one who first exposed him to nature.

The house where Charles was born is located in the Northwest...

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...ing area. Fourth, there is the Lyell range named after him in north-west Western Australia and lastly, there is the jawless fish Cephalaspis Lyelli from the Old Red Sandstone of southern Scotland.

He was known for uniformitarianism along with James Hutton, John Playfair, Lamarack, and William Buckland. Lyell was also an influence to many people including Charles Darwin, Alfred Russell Wallace, Thomas Henry Huxley, and Roderick Impey Murchison. He made many scientific contributions and much of his work is still recognized today.

Bibliography

Wikipedia. Gould, Stephen Jay. Charles Lyell, Principles of Geology.1854 edition.

• Lyell, Charles (1830), Principles of Geology 1, London: John Murray

• Lyell, Charles (1832), Principles of Geology 2, London: John Murray

• Lyell, Charles (1833), Principles of Geology 3, London: John Murray

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