Charles Lyell
1797–1875 · British · Victorian Era
Known for: Established uniformitarianism and his Principles of Geology directly influenced Darwin
Charles Lyell made Hutton's ideas readable and respectable. His Principles of Geology argued that the Earth was shaped by slow, continuous processes over vast time. The book was Darwin's constant companion on the Beagle—it gave him the timescale needed for evolution.
He traveled extensively, studying formations across Europe and America.
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