Lyell, SIR

CHARLES, 1797-1875. Prof. of Geology in King's Coll., London, 1832; knighted 1848; Baronet 1864. He grasped in early life the principle, enunciated by Hutton and lost sight of in the quarrels of the Vulcanists and Neptunists, that the former changes of the Earth's surface are to be explained by reference to causes now in operation. To the establishment of this truth he devoted his life, traveling extensively to make investigations. In Principles of Geology, 1830-33, he sketched in broad outline and illustrated with a wealth of facts nearly all those fundamental truths now accepted as the basis of Geology. Many of these are further developed in The Antiquity of Man, 1863, and other books. His views, which were the foundation of the Uniformitarian school, were opposed to the then prevalent CATASTROPHIST (q.v.) doctrines.