LY'ELL, Sir CHARLES (1797-IS75). One of the most eminent contributors to geological science. He was born at Kinnordy, Scotland, the son of Charles Lyell, who attained some dis tinction as a scientist and student of Dante. He received his early education at Midhurst and entered Exeter College. Oxford, where his inter est in science was awakened by attendance upon the lectures of Dr. Buekland. After receiving the degree of M.A. in 1821 he was entered as student at Lincoln's Inn, and in due time was called to the bar. While pursuing. his profes sional duties he was a frequent contributor to scientific journals and took an active part in the meetings of the Geological and Linmean Societies of London. The value of his work was confirmed by election to a fellowship in the Royal Society in 1826. as well as by commendatory no tice, from Cuvier, Humboldt. and other savants of the day. In 1S2S, for the purpose of broaden ing his knowledge of science. he accompanied Sir Roderick Murchison on a tour of Europe. While traveling in Sicily he remarked the evidences of recent elevation of the island, which strengthened his belief in the theory that great geological changes do not require catastrophic agencies for their accomplishment: and he worked out a stra tigraphic division for the Tertiary formation based upon the relative proportion of living to extinct species of mollusks found in the rocks. The first volume of his great work, Principles of Geology, appeared in 1S30. the second in 1832, and the third in 1833. A third edition of the whole work was published in 1334, and other editions were issued in rapid succession. In 1S35 Lyell was elected president of the Geo logical Society of London. He visited the United States in when he lectured hefore the Low ell Institute in Boston. and in 1845-16;
the results of his scientific and political studies during his visits to America were embodied in book-form. He was knighted in 1848, and later he received a baronetcy. He was elected to mem bership in many foreign scientific societies, and served as president of the British Assoeiation for the Advancement of Science. He died in London. February 22. 1S75. and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
Lyell has justly been called the founder of modern geology. While not the originator of the doctrine of oniformitarianism (q.v.), he was its stanchest and able-t advocate, and was com pletely successful in securing its universal adop tion by geologists. Lyell was also influential in securing recognition for Darwin's theory it evolution, which in a At ay was lint the logical out come of the Principles of Geology. In addition to this great work, which has passed through twelve edition•, Lyell contributed over 7.1 papers to various society journals. and also wrote the following extended works: Eli nit Os of I je oloqy I83g) ; Tro•(ls in A orth Am( riea, with Geo logical rrations 11843) ; .1 S( opul 1 isit to the I. tilted States of North .1 inerica I I s 19 ; The antiquity of Man 11863) ; and The St 1/dent's of Geology (1871). For an estimate of Lyell's services to science, consult: The Pounders of Geology f 1897 ; for an account of his life, consult Life and t1, rs of Sir Charles Lyell, edited by Alt-. Lyell, his sister-in-law (London, 2 vols.. Issl ) ; and also consult the letters to and from Charles Darwin in the volumes of Darwin's correspondence (1903).