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Charles Lyell
Geologist

Charles Lyell

Famoose for

Explaining geological change through processes still observable today.

Principles of Geology · Travels in North America

Born
14 November 1797
Birthplace
Kinnordy, Angus
Died
22 February 1875

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Charles Lyell

Charles Lyell was a Scottish geologist whose Principles of Geology helped establish the importance of deep time in understanding Earth.

Early life

Education

Studied classics at Oxford and attended William Buckland’s geology lectures.

Career

  1. 1820s

    From law to geology

    Left legal practice for geological research.

  2. 1830–1833

    Principles of Geology

    Published the three-volume work.

  3. 1858

    Evolution papers

    Helped arrange publication of Darwin and Wallace’s papers.

Selected work

Principles of Geology

Explained the past through continuing natural processes.

Travels in North America

Combined travel observations with geology.

Beyond work

Libraries

Donated books after the 1871 Chicago fire to support the new public library.

Sources & photo creditBiography and career ↗Biographical references ↗

Original photograph. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.

Photo: Artistic portrait; George J. Stodart. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.