Charles Lyell: biography of this influential British geologist

Charles Lyell was a British geologist, lawyer and paleontologist, being 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 for a time as a lawyer, 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 check and write the different theories and works of him.

In this brief Charles Lyell biography We will mention the most relevant events and events in the life of this scientist, as well as his studies, theories and contributions that he made to Geology.

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Short biography of Charles Lyell

Charles Lyell was born on November 14, 1797 in Kinnordy, now known as Angus, Scotland. He had nine siblings, he being the oldest, and he grew up in England. His parents were Frances Smith and Charles Lyell, who was a botanist.

Since he was little he already showed interest in science and biology, since he liked to collect insects; during his childhood he was a student of different private schools.

Years of study at the university

At the age of 19, Lyell began his training by attending different classes, including Geology taught by geologist William Buckland. Finally, after finishing his bachelor of arts, he decided to study law. In 1821 he obtained his first degree, graduating in Law and thus becoming part of the bar association in 1825.

Despite choosing a law degree, 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. Going to these classes together with the multiple geological excursions and the fact of belonging to different associations Scientific studies was decisive to continue increasing and reaffirming his interest and preference for the study of Geology.

After enrolling at Lincoln’s Inn, considered one of the most prestigious professional bodies of judges and lawyers in the world, joined the Linnaean 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 his debut 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 made 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 the stay in France he decided to undertake a geology-focused journey through his homeland, Scotland, together with his professor William Buckland.

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Professional life

It was in 1827 when he finally decided to quit 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 presentation enlightening.

Regarding his private life, He married Mary Horner in 1832, who was an English conchilliologist and geologist. In this way, hers, also knowledge of her in Geology, allowed him to collaborate in the scientific investigations of her husband, having more implication of the recognition that was given to him of her.

His travels through Europe did not cease, and between 1828 and 1829 he returned to visit France with fellow Scottish geologist Roderick Murchison, and He traveled through Italy with the British philosopher, theologian and scientist William Whewell, whose studies carried out together allowed 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 with the realization of these trips that he was able to find evidence that pointed and supported that the geology of the Earth was due to natural causes.

In relation to the three geological times he named, Hyell also is considered one of the founders of stratigraphy that studies the different layers of the Earth's surface. Thus, he studied the ancient marine strata of Europe to classify the different existing strata.

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Main scientific contributions

Between 1830 and 1833 he published what would be his most outstanding and important work, "Principles of Geology", divided into three volumes. As we already 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 it 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 large catastrophes.

In his work "Principles of Geology", the author refers to the gradualist current that presents and tries to explain biological and geological modifications using the successive processes of extinction and creation. Lyell carried out a synthesis work in this work and made use of his own observations that he had made during his travels to give more strength and support to the contributions and affirmations that he presented in she.

This renowned Lyell publication is made up of three dimensions. In the first place, that of actualism, where an attempt is made to explain facts and events of the past taking into account the same causes that are present today.

In second place, uniformity, where, contrary to the theory of catastrophism, it is affirmed that the geological phenomena of the past are uniform without any catastrophic phenomenon occurring.

And finally, dynamic balance, as has already been mentioned, it was pointed out that changes in the Earth occurred in cycles, turns, of periods of creation and destruction, thus geological periods are believed to be equal.

Such was the importance of his first work in the field of geology that it was considered the most influential in this area in the 19th century, obtaining a high number of sales and publishing various editions of she. It was so important that even the very Charles Darwin It served as the 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 of 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 the aqueous phenomena (such as erosion and sedimentation) and on the other hand the igneous phenomena (such as volcanic and seismic activity) would act.

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 published his second book, entitled "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 the United States and Canada.

Later, in 1863 he would see the light of his work entitled "The geological evidence of the antiquity of man." In it he did not show a clear acceptance of Darwin's Theory of Evolution, not being until two years later, in 1865, with the publication of a new edition of "The Principles of Geology", when he was related to 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. Similarly, in 1848 he was made Sir, Knight, and in 1864 Baron in England. Also, in recognition and in memory of him, a lunar crater and a crater on Mars are named after his surname.

Charles Lyell died in London on February 22, 1875.