Charles Lyell: Biography Of This Influential British Geologist
Charles Lyell was a British geologist, lawyer and paleontologist, considered one of the founders of modern geology and stratigraphy, the study of the layers of the Earth’s surface.
Despite studying law and practicing as a lawyer for a time, he ended up opting for the field of natural sciences, Geology, his true passion. In this way he made multiple trips to different places in Europe and North America to verify and write up his different theories and works.
In this brief Charles Lyell biography We will mention the most relevant events and facts in the life of this scientist, as well as his studies, theories and contributions he made to Geology.
Charles Lyell was born on 14 November 1797 in Kinnordy, now known as Angus, Scotland He had nine siblings, he being the oldest, and grew up in England. His parents were Frances Smith and Charles Lyell, who was a botanist.
Since he was little, he showed interest in science and biology, since he liked to collect insects; During his childhood he was a student at different private schools.
Years of study at the university
At 19 years old, Lyell began his training by attending different classes, including those in Geology taught by geologist William Buckland. Finally, once he finished his bachelor’s degree, he decided to study Law. In 1821 he obtained his first degree, graduating in Law and thus becoming part of the bar in 1825.
Despite choosing a career in law, he always liked science, specifically natural history, so In 1816 he attended classes at Exeter College in Oxford, being a student of the geologist and paleontologist W. Buckland Attending these classes along with the multiple geological excursions and belonging to different scientific associations was decisive in continuing to increase and reaffirm his interest and preference for the study of Geology.
After enrolling at Lincoln’s Inn, considered one of the most prestigious professional bodies for judges and lawyers in the world, He joined the Linnean Geological Society in 1819 one of the main scientific societies in the study of taxonomy, a science that attempts to classify organisms taking into account the traits they have in common.
It was only three years after debuting as a member of the Geological Society, in 1822, that he managed to present his first scientific communication.
To continue learning and acquiring knowledge, he took a trip in which he met Georges Curvier, who was a French naturalist and paleontologist, and Alexander von Humboldt, who was a German explorer, naturalist and geologist. After his stay in France he decided to undertake a trip focused on Geology through his homeland, Scotland, with his professor William Buckland.
Professional life
It was in 1827 when he finally decided to leave his job as a lawyer and dedicate himself fully to Geology, becoming part of the Royal Society In this period he began to develop what would be his most important novel, based on the publication made by James Hutton (geologist, doctor, chemist and naturalist) on how the Earth was formed, but providing a different point of view and a more enlightening presentation.
Regarding his private life, He married in 1832 Mary Horner, who was an English conchologist and geologist In this way, her knowledge of Geology also allowed her to collaborate in her husband’s scientific research, having more involvement in the recognition of her than he received from her.
His travels through Europe did not cease, and between 1828 and 1829 he visited France again with the Scottish geologist Roderick Murchison, and traveled through Italy with the British philosopher, theologian and scientist William Whewell, whose studies carried out together allowed them give names to three geological times (concepts that made it possible to classify different rocks): the Eocene, the Miocene and the Pliocene
It was also by carrying out these trips that he was able to find evidence that pointed out and supported that the geology of the Earth was due to natural causes.
In relation to the three geological times to which he named, Hyell also He is considered one of the founders of stratigraphy which studies the different layers of the Earth’s surface. Thus, he studied the ancient marine strata of Europe to classify the different existing strata.
Between 1830 and 1833 he published what would be his most notable and important work, “Principles of Geology”, divided into three volumes. As we mentioned previously, for the writing of this work he took into account the contributions made by J. Hutton in his uniformitarian thesis developed in his book “Theory of the Earth”. Hutton believed that the process of development of the planet had been much slower than what was presented in the theory of catastrophism, which on the contrary presented the constitution of the Earth as a much faster process and caused by great catastrophes.
In his work “Principles of Geology”, the author refers to the gradualist current that presents and attempts to explain biological and geological modifications using the successive processes of extinction and creation In this work, Lyell carried out a work of synthesis and used his own observations that he had made during his travels to give more strength and support to the contributions and statements that he presented in it.
This renowned Lyell publication is made up of three dimensions. Firstly, that of actualism where an attempt is made to explain facts and events from the past taking into account the same causes that occur today.
In second place, uniformity where also contrary to the theory of catastrophism, it is stated that the geological phenomena of the past are uniform without any catastrophic phenomenon occurring.
And finally, dynamic balance as already mentioned, it was pointed out that changes on the Earth occurred in cycles, shifts, of periods of creation and destruction, in this way it is believed that the geological periods are equal.
Such was the importance of his first work in the field of geology that it was considered the most influential in this field in the 19th century, obtaining a high number of sales and various editions of it being published. It was so important that even Charles Darwin himself served as inspiration for his well-known book “The Origin of Species.” In Spain it was published in 1847 translated into Spanish by the geologist Joaquín Ezquerra del Bayo.
One of the dimensions of the work “Principles of Geology” was based on the Theory of dynamic equilibrium, in this the author makes the distinction between two processes that constituted the shape of the Earth (geological morphogenesis) through the mutual compensation of one and the other: on the one hand there would be aqueous phenomena (such as erosion and sedimentation) and on the other hand igneous phenomena would act (such as volcanic and seismic activity).
Similarly, Charles Lyell believed that in the history of the Earth the movements of the continents had generated climatic changes, thus affecting the survival and therefore the extinction of some species.
In 1838 the author would publish his second book, titled “The Elements of Geology” also selling different editions of it.
Then, in 1845 and 1849 he published two books in which he explained his travels through North America, specifically through the United States and Canada.
Later, in 1863 his work titled “The geological evidence of the antiquity of man” would see the light. In it he did not show a clear acceptance of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, and it was not until two years later, in 1865, with the publication of a new edition of “The Principles of Geology”, when he showed affinity with the Theory presented. by Darwin.
It is also worth mentioning that throughout his career he received multiple awards, such as the Royal medal, and was a member of different institutions. Likewise, in 1848 he was knighted and in 1864 a baron in England. Furthermore, in recognition and in memory of him, a lunar crater and a crater on Mars are named after his last name.
Charles Lyell died in London on February 22, 1875.
