Portrait of Sir Charles Lyell (1797-1875)
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Portrait in oils of Charles Lyell, by unknown artist, [c.1835] (GSL/POR/9)
Provenance: Purchased by the Society in 1892 for the sum of £1. |
Sir Charles Lyell was probably the most famous and influential geologist of the 19th century. Born in Kirriemuir, Forfarshire, he developed an interest in natural history as a boy. Whilst studying Classics at Exeter College, Oxford he attended the geological lectures of
William Buckland (1784-1856) which clearly had an effect as much to his father’s chagrin his son became increasingly distracted from his intended career in law by his geological pursuits.
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| Temple of Serapis, Lyell's famous frontispiece to 'Principles of Geology'. The three marble columns show signs of boring by marine molluscs indicating that in the 2000 years since they were constructed, volcanic activity had caused the land to first subside then rise again. The illustration captured in miniature Lyell's concept of the cyclical nature of a ceaselessly, dynamic Earth. |
At the cornerstone of Lyell’s many publications, notably his most popular work ‘Principles of Geology’ (first published in 1830), was his promotion of the theory of ‘uniformitarianism’, first suggested by the Scottish geologist James Hutton (1726-1797). Often referred to more simply as ‘the present is the key to the past’, Lyell suggested that the ancient world should not be viewed as a mysterious time, instead the geological processes observed to happen today would have happened in the past. Lyell introduced the concept of ‘deep time’ as he stated that these geological processes must have taken many millions of years.
Lyell was knighted in 1848 and created a Baronet in 1864. He was elected a Member of the Geological Society on 19 March 1819 and served as Secretary between 1823-1826, Foreign Secretary, 1829-1835, and twice as President, 1835-1837 and 1849-1851. He was awarded the Wollaston Medal in 1866.
Another image of Lyell can be found in our painting The British Association at Newcastle.