Charles Lyell (Lyell) (eng. Sir Charles Lyell; November 14, 1797 - February 22, 1875) - the founder of modern geology.
He came from a wealthy family, whose fortune was provided by his grandfather. He, having entered the Royal Navy as a sailor, managed to become a treasurer on large ships. In 1778, during the American Revolutionary War, he was secretary to the commander of the British Navy, John Byron, and purser of the flagship HMS Princess Royal. The position allowed him, after retirement, to acquire 5,000 acres of land in Scotland, including Kinnordy House and Inverquarity Castle near Kirriemuir. Charles's father inherited the Scottish possessions. He married Frances Smith.
Charles was their first child, born on the family estate of Kinnordy in Forfairshire (now Angus). A year later, the family moved to their home in the south of England, in Hampshire. In his fourth year, Charles learned to read, and in his eighth year he entered school. Spending the summer in the village, he became addicted to collecting insects, identifying them from an atlas stolen from some library, which contributed to the development of the habit of observation and classification. In 1816, nineteen-year-old Charles accidentally discovered R. Bakewell's Introduction to Geology in his father's library - this book later became Lyell's reference book.
Upon entering Oxford University, he studied classics, but did not leave his studies natural sciences. At the lectures of William Backland, he became more familiar with geology and became friends with many outstanding naturalists. A trip in 1818 to France, Italy and Switzerland, during which he diligently became acquainted with collections in museums and observed such grandiose natural phenomena as glaciers and volcanoes, significantly expanded his scientific horizons. Nevertheless, having received a bachelor's degree in 1819, he moved to London, where he studied legal sciences specifically. For several more years, Lyell did not leave his legal practice, making annual geological excursions throughout England and Scotland, and trips abroad.
In 1825, his first printed works appeared, devoted to the description of the latest geological formations of some areas of England and Scotland. Lyell draws attention to the sad state of geology - from Cuvier's catastrophe hypothesis it was concluded that the study of modern geological movements cannot provide any help in restoring the history of the Earth in long-ago times, and to explain the observed facts it was necessary to resort to completely arbitrary and fantastic assumptions. Diligently studying recent and modern geological deposits, Lyell soon came to the conclusion that Cuvier's view of the difference between the extent of geological activity in past eras and in modern times does not correspond to reality.
A young little-known scientist, in the eyes of most an amateur, was not afraid to enter into a fight with the greatest authorities of his time. Only after several years of hard work, in 1830-33, Lyell’s classic work “Principles of Geology” appeared (in editions), which constituted an era in science. In this work, with the help of enormous erudition, an accurate presentation of facts and a brilliantly witty explanation of them, he irrevocably proved that “from ancient times to the present day, no other reasons have acted except those that are now operating, that their action has always manifested itself with the same energy that they exhibit now” and that, consequently, the study of modern phenomena can provide a reliable key to the analysis of more ancient geological monuments.
Lyell's application of the new method to the study and classification of Tertiary deposits gave such brilliant results that the enormous scientific significance of the method was beyond doubt. Lyell's bold ideas initially aroused fierce attacks from the most authoritative representatives of the old views, but already in the 1840s in England, and by the early 1860s. all over the world the old geological theories were relegated to the realm of history. In the 1st edition of the Fundamentals, a solid foundation was laid for the new geology, but much remained to be done, and Lyell’s entire scientific activity, which ended only with his death, was devoted to presenting the history of the Earth on new principles.
Surrounded by honor and recognized as the head of the geologists of his fatherland, Lyell remained a private man all his life, shirking any official position, with great reluctance and for a short time even accepting the title of President of the Geological Society of London, not wanting to take time away from his scientific studies. Lyell spent almost a third of his life traveling around Europe and North America, interrupting excursions only to process the collected material. During my scientific activity he published over sixty scientific articles and notes covering many particulars of geology, including four voluminous volumes of travel in North America.
In the 1860s. The scientist’s health began to noticeably weaken, but excursions and travel continued as usual. In 1875, his wife died, for 40 years his constant assistant. scientific works; Shocked by her death, the half-blind old man sought peace in the pursuit of his favorite science. At the age of seventy-seven, a few months before his death, he undertook a journey to study the ancient and new igneous rocks of his homeland, Forfairshire. In his last letter, written shortly before his death, discussing this trip, Lyell once again points out the identity of ancient and new volcanic formations, confirming the views to which he devoted his life. He soon died and was solemnly buried in Westminster Abbey, next to his friend, the famous astronomer John Herschel.
In 1848 he was created a knight (Sir), in 1864 - a baronet (1st Baronet).
In 1935, the International Astronomical Union assigned the name Lyell to a crater on the visible side of the Moon.
Works and views
The largest result of Lyell’s scientific activity remains “Fundamentals of Geology” (The full title of the book in literal translation (according to A.I. Ravikovich): “Principles of Geology, which is an attempt to explain past changes in the Earth’s surface by relating them to currently operating causes”) in three volumes ( 1830-1833). In England, these books were published 11 times during the author’s lifetime and were constantly updated; the 12th edition was posthumous. The 9th (pre-Darwinian) edition, which was published in 1866, was translated into Russian.
In 1836 they were divided into two separate books: "Elements of Geology - History earth's crust" and "Basic principles of geology - the activities of modern geological agents" (dynamic geology). The first work went through 6 editions (until 1865). The 6th edition was translated into Russian 2 times under the title “Guide to Geology” (1866, 1878), and the second - 11 editions, each of which represents a thorough revision of the previous one based on new observations, and the most important of these observations were personally verified by Lyell. These books reflected two of Lyell's favorite theories - actualism and uniformitarianism (the principle of uniformity of natural forces over time)
In his work "Principles of Geology" Lyell developed the doctrine of slow and continuous change earth's surface under the influence of constant geological factors. He transferred the normative principles of biology to geology, building here a theoretical concept that subsequently influenced biology. In other words, he transferred (reduced) the principles of the highest form to the knowledge of lower forms. However, the Earth for Lyell does not develop in a certain direction, it simply changes in a random, incoherent way. Moreover, for him, change is only gradual quantitative changes, without a jump, without breaks of gradualness, without qualitative changes.
The extent to which Lyell closely followed new phenomena in science is shown by his attitude towards Darwinism and the question of prehistoric man. Recognizing great importance Darwin's views, Lyell, together with Hooker, convinced him to publish his famous work, “The Origin of Species.” Having recognized the soundness of his arguments, despite his 60 years, Lyell fully, although not without doubts and hesitations, sided with the teachings of Darwin, abandoning many of the views that had guided him throughout his scientific career.
Lyell was 60 years old when he became acquainted with the remains of an “antediluvian” man discovered by Boucher de Pert in the Somme Valley (he would later be called a Neanderthal). Despite the fact that these discoveries were met with general distrust, Lyell, having become convinced on the spot of their reliability, not only supported Boucher de Perth with his authority, but became interested in the question of ancient man, traveled around all the interesting areas in this regard Western Europe. As a result, the last one appeared big job Lyell's Antiquity of Man, a compilation of all the accumulated fragmentary data on prehistoric man, brilliantly illuminated and re-verified. Lyell's work attracted the attention of scientists and gave impetus to further research in this direction, thanks to which a branch of science subsequently emerged - prehistoric archaeology.
Translations into Russian
- Lyell Ch. The foundations of geology or the changes that once occurred with the earth and its inhabitants / Transl. from the 5th ed.: In 2 vols. M.: typ. E. Barfknecht and Co., 1859: T. 1. 96 p.; T. 2., 96-177 p.
- Lyell Ch. Geological evidence of human antiquity, with some comments on theories of the origin of species / Transl. from 3 English ed. IN. Kovalevsky. SPb.: type. HE. Baksta, 1864. XII, 512 p.
- Lyell Ch. Basic principles of geology or newest changes earth and its inhabitants / Transl. from English A. Min: In 2 vols. M.: ed. A. Glazunova, 1866. T. 2. 462 p.
- Lyell Ch. A Guide to Geology, or Ancient Changes of the Earth and Its Inhabitants, According to the Evidence of Geological Monuments / Trans. N. A. Golovkinsky. From 6th English ed., 1865, value. additional: In 2 volumes: T. 1. 1st half. SPb.: type. N. Tiblen and Co. (N. Neklyudova), 1866. , II, 496, VI p.; T. 2. St. Petersburg: type. or T. A.E. Landau, 1878. , IV, 281 p.
- Lyell Ch. Guide to Geology Vol. 1 (Ancient changes of the earth and its inhabitants, according to the evidence of geological monuments). Per. N. A. Golovkinsky, 1867.
- Lyell Ch. Guide to Geology. T. 2 / Per. from 6th ed. Ed. V. O. Kovalevsky. SPb.: type. or T. A. E. Landau, 1878. , IV, 563 p.
Surrounded by honor, recognized as the head of the geologists of his fatherland, Lyell remained a private man all his life, avoiding any official position, with great reluctance and for a short time even accepted the title of President of the Geological Society of London, not wanting to take time away from his scientific studies. Lyell spent almost a third of his life traveling around Europe and North America, interrupting excursions only to process the collected material. During his scientific career, he published over sixty scientific articles and notes, covering many particulars of geology, including four voluminous volumes of travel in North America.
In the 1860s. The scientist’s health began to noticeably weaken, but excursions and travel continued as usual. In 1875, his wife, a constant assistant in his scientific works for 40 years, died; Shocked by her death, the half-blind old man sought peace in the pursuit of his favorite science. At the age of seventy-seven, a few months before his death, he undertook a journey to study the ancient and new igneous rocks of his homeland, Forfairshire. In his last letter, written shortly before his death, discussing this trip, Lyell once again points out the identity of ancient and new volcanic formations, confirming the views to which he devoted his life. Soon, on February 10, 1875, Lyell died and was solemnly buried in Westminster Abbey, next to his friend, the famous astronomer John Herschel.
Works and views
The largest result of Lyell’s scientific activity remains “Fundamentals”, which he later divided into two separate books: “Elements of Geology - History of the Earth’s Crust” and “Fundamentals of Geology - Activities of Modern Geological Agents” (dynamic geology). The first work went through 8, and the second - 11 editions during the author’s lifetime, each of which represents a thorough revision of the previous one based on new observations, and the most important of these observations were personally verified by Lyell. These books reflected two of Lyell's favorite theories - actualism and uniformitarianism.
In his work “Fundamentals of Geology” in three volumes (1830-1833), Lyell developed the doctrine of slow and continuous changes in the earth’s surface under the influence of constant geological factors. He transferred the normative principles of biology to geology, building here a theoretical concept that subsequently influenced biology. In other words, he transferred (reduced) the principles of the highest form to the knowledge of lower forms. However, the Earth for Lyell does not develop in a certain direction, it simply changes in a random, incoherent way. Moreover, for him, change is only gradual quantitative changes, without a jump, without breaks of gradualness, without qualitative changes.
The extent to which Lyell closely followed new phenomena in science is shown by his attitude towards Darwinism and the question of prehistoric man. Recognizing the great importance of Darwin's views, Lyell, together with Hooker, convinced him to publish his famous work, “The Origin of Species.” Having recognized the soundness of his arguments, despite his 60 years, Lyell fully, although not without doubts and hesitations, sided with the teachings of Darwin, abandoning many of the views that had guided him throughout his scientific career.
Lyell was 60 years old when he became acquainted with the remains of an “antediluvian” man discovered by Boucher de Pert in the Somme Valley (he would later be called a Neanderthal). Despite the fact that these discoveries were met with general distrust, Lyell, having convinced himself on the spot of their reliability, not only supported Boucher de Perth with his authority, but, becoming interested in the question of ancient man in general, traveled around all the interesting areas of Western Europe in this regard. The result was Lyell's last major work, The Antiquity of Man, a collection of all the accumulated fragmentary data on prehistoric man, brilliantly illuminated and re-verified. Lyell's work attracted the attention of scientists and gave impetus to further research in this direction, thanks to which a branch of science subsequently emerged - prehistoric archaeology.
- King's College London
- Exeter College[d]
Baker's Lecture (1835)
Copley Medal (1858)
Wollaston Medal (1866)
Sir (1848), Baronet (1864) Charles Lyell(more precisely Lyell; English Sir Charles Lyell; November 14, 1797 - February 22, 1875) - the founder of modern geology and, according to the definition of the Brockhaus and Efron encyclopedic dictionary, "one of the most outstanding XIX scientists centuries."
Biography
Works and views
The fundamental principles of geology or the latest changes in the earth and its inhabitants, 1866
The largest result of Lyell’s scientific activity remains “Fundamentals of Geology” (The full title of the book in literal translation (according to A.I. Ravikovich): “Principles of Geology, which is an attempt to explain past changes in the Earth’s surface by relating them to currently operating causes”) in three volumes ( 1830-1833). In England, these books were published 11 times during the author’s lifetime and were constantly updated; the 12th edition was posthumous. The 9th (pre-Darwinian) edition, which was published in 1866, was translated into Russian.
In 1836 they were divided into two separate books: “Elements of Geology - History of the Earth's Crust” and “Fundamentals of Geology - Activities of Modern Geological Agents” (dynamic geology). The first work went through 6 editions (until 1865). The 6th edition was translated into Russian 2 times under the title “Guide to Geology” (1866, 1878), and the second - 11 editions, each of which represents a thorough revision of the previous one based on new observations, and the most important of these observations were personally verified by Lyell. These books reflected two of Lyell's favorite theories - actualism and uniformitarianism (the principle of uniformity of natural forces over time)
In his work “Fundamentals of Geology,” Lyell developed the doctrine of slow and continuous changes in the earth’s surface under the influence of constant geological factors. He transferred the normative principles of biology to geology, building here a theoretical concept that subsequently influenced biology. In other words, he transferred (reduced) the principles of the highest form to the knowledge of lower forms. However, the Earth for Lyell does not develop in a certain direction, it simply changes in a random, incoherent way. Moreover, for him, change is only gradual quantitative changes, without a jump, without breaks of gradualness, without qualitative changes.
The extent to which Lyell closely followed new phenomena in science is shown by his attitude towards Darwinism and the question of prehistoric man. Recognizing the great importance of Darwin's views, Lyell, together with Hooker, convinced him to publish his famous work, “The Origin of Species.” Having recognized the soundness of his arguments, despite his 60 years, Lyell fully, although not without doubts and hesitations, sided with the teachings of Darwin, abandoning many of the views that had guided him throughout his scientific career.
Lyell was 60 years old when he became acquainted with the remains of an “antediluvian” man discovered by Boucher de Pert in the Somme Valley (he would later be called a Neanderthal). Despite the fact that these discoveries were met with general distrust, Lyell, having convinced himself on the spot of their reliability, not only supported Boucher de Perth with his authority, but, becoming interested in the question of ancient man in general, traveled around all the interesting areas of Western Europe in this regard. The result was Lyell's last major work, The Antiquity of Man, a collection of all the accumulated fragmentary data on prehistoric man, brilliantly illuminated and re-verified. Lyell's work attracted the attention of scientists and gave impetus to further research in this direction, thanks to which a branch of science subsequently emerged - prehistoric archaeology.
Memory of Layel
- A year after the scientist's death, the Geological Society of London established the Lyell Medal in his honor.
- In 1935, the International Astronomical Union assigned the name Lyell to a crater on the visible side of the Moon.
see also
| Charles Lyell in Wikiquote | |
Charles Lyell was born in Scotland at the end of the 18th century, in 1797. His grandfather was a very wealthy man who rose from the bottom. Having begun his service in the navy as a simple sailor, he made a remarkable career in economic affairs and during the American War of Independence he was with the commander of the British fleet as the paymaster of the flagship. As “gentlemen who owe everything only to themselves” often do, he strove to give his son the deepest and most refined education.
Charles was born on the Scottish estate of Kinnordy, bought by his grandfather, in an environment that was very, very conducive to personal growth. Lyell's interests included botany and the poetry of the Italian Renaissance, and he took his son's education very seriously. Lyell Jr. learned to read at the age of four, went through several private schools as a child, and then entered Oxford. It should be noted that with all the glory of this educational institution, many note that best place for the natural scientist there was Cambridge; as for Oxford, those who were attracted gravitated there humanitarian sciences and political career. But young Lyell at that time had not yet decided on his calling. He was just about to study law, and in addition, he dreamed of literary fame. However, gradually the young man became interested in geology, which was taught to Oxford students by Professor Buckland, an adherent of the school of catastrophists founded by Cuvier.
In 1817, Lyell had a chance to visit an amazing place on one of the Hebrides Islands - the famous Fingal's Cave. It is a grotto carved into the rock by the surf and has unique acoustics. But the most remarkable thing is the hexagonal basalt pillars up to 20 m high that decorate the cave. These formations look man-made, but are actually of natural origin. The cave made an indelible impression on the young man and, perhaps, it was then that he finally gave his heart to geology.
Lyell published his first scientific work in 1823. It was devoted to the features geological structure Isle of Wight. Several more descriptive works followed, in which, at first glance, there was nothing particularly outstanding. Modest, albeit necessary, work of an ordinary army of naturalists. After some time, the young scientist had the idea of writing a geology textbook. It was not intended as an outstanding contribution to science, but as a useful compilation of authorities for beginners. But while working on the book, Lyell was surprised to realize that, in general, there was nothing to compile. Contemporary knowledge of geology is rather unsystematic and does not fit well into a single scientific discipline, and most importantly, in some places they contradict his own observations.
"I felt, – wrote Charles Lyell,- that a subject in which you need to make so many reforms and alterations, in which you yourself acquire new ideas and develop new theories as you complete your task, in which you have to constantly refute and find arguments - that such a subject should be developed in a book that has no nothing to do with the textbook. I had to not present ready-made truths to my students, but conduct a dialogue with my equals.”
In 1828, an expedition to the Mediterranean made Lyell doubt that between modern education and the formations of the Tertiary period lie such an impassable line, the cause of which was a one-time catastrophe. By comparing Tertiary fossils with modern ones, he concluded that Tertiary sediments, climate and fauna seamlessly transition into modern ones. He found no evidence in favor of enormous general catastrophes breaking the chain of phenomena; on the contrary, everything indicates a slow, continuous and homogeneous process of development.
In 1830, the first volume of Lyell’s basic work “Fundamentals of Geology” was published. The second and third volumes appeared in 1832 and 1833. respectively. The more detailed title of this work is “Principles of Geology, which is an attempt to explain past changes in the surface of the Earth by relating them to causes now operating.” the main idea is that “from ancient times to the present day, no other causes have acted than those that are now operating, that their action has always been manifested with the same energy that they manifest now” and that, therefore, the study of modern phenomena can give a reliable key to the analysis of more ancient geological monuments. This theory was called actualism.
Lyell showed how significant the role of so-called weak agents as rock-forming factors can be. He showed the significance of the impact of water, both destructive and creative, the importance of climate change, as well as the possible dependence of climate on changes in the configuration of continents. He dwelled in detail on the action of biogenic factors, carried out comparative analysis products of ancient and modern volcanism, created the theory of mountain formation.
One of the most important conclusions from his work was a changed understanding of the absolute age of geological layers. After all, if thick sedimentary strata are the product of the influence of weak agents, then how long does it take for their accumulation? Therefore, life on Earth has existed much longer than previously thought.
At first, Lyell's work was received with great skepticism, but also with enormous interest. Even before the third volume was released, the previous two editions were completely sold out. In total, “Fundamentals of Geology” was republished 11 times during the author’s lifetime. At first this interest was rather scandalous. There is interesting evidence of this not from anyone, but from Charles Darwin himself:
“When I set off on the Beagle,” he recalled, “Professor Henslow, who, like all geologists of that era, believed in successive catastrophes, advised me to obtain and study the just published first volume of the “Fundamentals,” but not in “Under no circumstances should we accept his theories.”
But all of Lyell’s subsequent research (and he lived a long life and spent a significant part of it on geological expeditions) formed like bricks into the theory published in the 30s. So already in the 40s he was overtaken by universal recognition. In 1848 he was knighted, and in 1864 he received the title of baronet for his scientific services.
Lyell not only sketched an essay general history earth, which formed the basis of modern geology, but also conducted a much more thorough study of the Tertiary period specifically. The scheme he established (Eocene, Miocene and Pliocene) has survived to this day with changes only in details. IN last years His life was very interested in the theme of prehistoric man. One of his scientific works the late period is called “Geological evidence of human antiquity.” But besides his own direct contribution to the development of this scientific direction, he also made an indirect contribution. It is impossible to overestimate the influence of Charles Lyell on the formations scientific views Charles Darwin. After his death in 1875, Lyell was honored with burial in Westminster Abbey.
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Biographical sketch of M. A. Engelhardt
With a portrait of Lyell, engraved in St. Petersburg by K. Adt
Chapter I. Childhood. Years of study
Lyell's father. – First impressions. – Love of nature. - School. – Entomology. – Gymnasium and its harmful influence. - Morals of schoolchildren. Fights. – Classicism. – Lyell's recollection of his childhood years .
Charles Lyell was born in rich family and grew up in enviable conditions: in material comfort, in an atmosphere of science and literature. However, his road was not without bumps, as we will see below; but overall it was still a smooth, rough road. His father, an inquisitive man and a great esthete, hung out with writers and scientists, studied botany with some success, translated Dante and published several articles about the great Italian poet. Heaven and the fertility of the Anglo-Saxon race rewarded him with a large family, consisting of three sons and seven daughters. The first-born, Charles, a future geologist, was born on November 14, 1797 in the county of Forfar, Scotland, on his father's estate at Kinnordy. Soon after, his father rented the Bartley Lodge estate in the New Forest, in Southern England, where he moved with the whole family.
In the fourth year of his life, Lyell learned to read: this is his first memory; and on the eighth he entered Dr. Davis’s school in the city of Ringwood - “... a great event in the boy’s life! A completely new world and quite rough for one who was brought up in ease and bliss!” (Lyell. Autobiography).
The child's first impressions could arouse a desire for abuse rather than for scientific exploits. At that time, Europe seemed to be boiling in a cauldron; Napoleon was approaching the zenith of his glory, beating European monarchs, giving away and taking away crowns, shuffling states, blinding European society with the splendor of his victories, and unleashed such a dope that this whole era seems to us some kind of extravaganza, grandiose or senseless, depending on whose taste - but crackling, with strong effects, with piles of corpses and rivers of blood. In England, the invasion of the Gauls was expected, detachments of volunteers were formed; Father Lyell was inflamed with military fervor, left his herbariums and took command of the detachment located in Ringwood, to the delight of the schoolchildren. The news of Nelson's victory at Trafalgar was celebrated with great pomp: bonfires were lit on the hills around Ringwood; the city was illuminated; people crowded the streets, chanting “Reign, Britannia!”; volunteers, full of patriotism and vodka, set fire to the house of some ordinary person, probably mistaking it for a French fortress - in a word, it was a lot of fun. “I remember that I took an active part in the general joy on the occasion great victory, and in grief over the death of Nelson (who received a mortal wound at the Battle of Trafalgar),” says Lyell in his autobiography.
These patriotic feelings did not leave a deep imprint on the child’s soul, finding a counterbalance in other impressions. From early childhood he fell in love with nature - an unconscious, instinctive love that made him a naturalist and determined his career long before he himself was aware of his aspirations. He spent the summer in the village, in the meadows with mowers or in the park surrounding the estate. “There were many beautiful old oak trees, which the owner of the estate sometimes cut down for sale, for which I was always angry with him, since I knew all the trees, big and small, and was very upset if one was missing. Each group and each individual tree received a special name from me. One was called “Ringwood”, the other was “Salisbury”, the third was “London” or “Paris” and so on. Individual trees I gave names of flowers; So, one was called “Geranium”. Little by little, these names were adopted by other family members.”
School activities were progressing fairly well, although by no means brilliantly. At Ringwood, Lyell studied reading, writing and grammar, and in his ninth year he was transferred to Dr. Radcliffe's School in Salisbury, a fashionable school where the sons of local aces were taught Latin. Dr. Radcliffe was a good Latin scholar, a strict but fair teacher, and had the misfortune of losing four wives one after another, for which he received the nickname “Bluebeard” from his disrespectful pupils. Lyell retains a vivid memory of his cane walking across the backs of schoolchildren when Bluebeard surprised them during a fight. He retained many other similar memories from this period: about the French teacher’s ruler, which hit mainly the fingers, but also the backs of schoolchildren; about pillow fights in the dormitory; about tricks perpetrated on unloved teachers, and so on, and so on, but we will leave aside these anxieties and joys of school life, because, differing in details and form, they are essentially the same in nature in all countries and among all peoples, representing only individual episodes of the great epic - the war between schoolchildren and teachers, which has not yet found its Homer.
Dr. Radcliffe's school was located in the center of quite big city, while the previous one was located on the outskirts of a small provincial town. Instead of a vast meadow and a river in which one could swim, there was a cramped courtyard surrounded by a wall at the school; We went for walks three times a week, in pairs, along the stuffy and dusty streets. “Compared to the old school, this school seemed like a prison, especially to me, accustomed to a free life in the New Forest,” recalls Lyell.
Latin grammar was decidedly not to Lyell's taste, and during the two years he spent in Salisbury, he studied rather poorly, especially since at Dr. Radcliffe's school no measures were used that could arouse competition, and Lyell, in his own consciousness, only pride could force him to study. “I always felt unhappy when I had to sit with folded hands,” he says, “and at the same time I had an aversion to work and could not take it up without coercion.”
The characterization, as we will now see, is not entirely fair. The boy's lively, inquisitive nature languished in inaction, but school wisdom presented too dry, unattractive food. When, in the tenth year of his life, due to illness he was taken from school to the village, a wide field opened up for his curiosity, in which he acted without any prodding or encouragement. He became addicted to collecting insects and identified them from an atlas that ended up in his father's library. This activity, familiar to most children, but usually having the character of pampering and fun, turned into a real passion for him and played a much more beneficial role in his upbringing than Latin grammar and Bluebeard’s cane. It developed in him observation, memory, the habit of comparison and classification, so important for a naturalist in general and for a geologist in particular. At the age of two or three he became a true naturalist, without even knowing it. “I knew little about development, even less about internal structure insects, but learned to distinguish by external signs several hundred species often very small, and I still (in 1832) remember almost everything, so that I could select English butterflies and moths from a foreign collection. Having no benefits, I gave some groups my names and subsequently became convinced that my classification corresponds to natural orders and families.”
He collected caterpillars and pupae and monitored their metamorphoses, little by little became familiar with the life of insects, and became convinced that each species appeared at a certain time; some only once, others twice a year, others during the day, others in the evening or at various hours of the night. He was especially interested in the customs and lifestyle of aquatic insects. “I sat,” he says, “whole mornings on the shore of the pond, observing the strange habits of water insects, fed them with flies and, if I could, caught them. I made sure that every pond was inhabited by water bugs various shapes and size and with the greatest interest watched their rapid movements, threw flies and butterflies to them and watched as they rose for their prey, some throwing it as others approached. I caught long, spider-like insects gliding quickly through the water; floats that describe a figure 8 in the water, smoothies floating on their backs, and others and kept them in a basin of water in my bedroom, to the great chagrin of the maids - especially if the water was not clean.”
