Charles Lyell An INFLUENTIAL British Lawyer and Geologist

Painting by Alexander Craig

A Brief Biography

Sir Charles Lyell was born on November 14, 1797 in Kinnordy, Scotland. The eldest of ten children, he attended private school. At the age of nineteen Lyell entered Oxford university, where he grew an interest in classics, mathematics, and geology, and received influence from professor William Buckland. After Oxford he moved to London to study law. In 1848 he was knighted for his work in the field of geology and the concept of uniformitarianism. He was then made a baronet in 1864. He died on February 22, 1875.

What Were His Important Ideas?

Lyell's ideas were very important to his time. With financial help from his father he continued to study geology while he was finishing his law studies. In 1825 he published his first scientific papers and was developing new principles of reasoning in geology. After a long trip exploring and studying geology in France and Italy he returned to England and started work on his book, Principles of Geology, which was first published in 1830. His most important idea was the concept of uniformitarianism, the theory that changes in the Earth's crust are a result from the actions of continuous and uniform processes. He thought that the Earth must be ancient and that there are natural explanations for all geologic phenomena. He also argued that the geological patterns of the time were similar to those of the past.

How did he Express His Ideas?

With financial help from his father he continued to study geology while he was finishing his law studies. In 1825 he published his first scientific papers and was developing new principles of reasoning in geology. After a long trip exploring and studying geology in France and Italy he returned to England and started work on his book, Principles of Geology, which was first published in 1830. This book gained the attention of Charles Darwin, who wrote, “The very first place which I examined . . . showed me clearly the wonderful superiority of Lyell’s manner of treating geology, compared with that of any other author, whose work I had with me or ever afterwards read.” Lyell went on to publish a second volume in 1831, and a third in 1833. People generally accepted his ideas. He impressed other scientists with his work, and his works sold so frequently new editions were required. He gave well-liked lectures at King's College in London, but soon resigned as the position was too time-consuming.

Why Were Lyell's Ideas Important Both in His Lifetime and Today?

During his time, Lyell's new methods on observation were revolutionary. He was praised by other researchers and scientists. He made new observations and discoveries no one else had, and was credited with creating a totally new approach to Geology. He attracted attention with his new method of scientific inquiry, regarded as mildly heretical. Today his ideas that the earth's itself is very old, and that the current geological form of the earth's crust is a result of millions years of a repeating process. Today's geologists have built upon his theories and expanded them, as well as have proved his ideas to be true.

Works Cited

Macomber, Richard W. "Sir Charles Lyell, Baronet." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 15 Feb. 2007. Web. 31 Jan. 2017.

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