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The pre-eminent geologist, Sir Charles Lyell, 1797-1875, was Professor
of Geology at King's from 1831-1833. As a child, Lyell acquired
a love of entomology and the new science of geology. Following study
at Exeter College, Oxford, and prior to his appointment to King's,
Lyell toured the continent and was elected Secretary of the influential
Geological Society. It was during this stage of his career that
he advanced an important new theory determining the ages of successive
geological epochs by the presence within the rocks of different
species of extinct flora and fauna. He incorporated this into a
model of gradual change of the earth's surface geology over an immense
period of time - millions of years as opposed to the mere six thousand
years implied by traditional calculations based upon the date of
Creation derived from study of the Bible. Lyell effectively threw
into doubt the whole Creationist basis of the biblical story. These
findings were presented in the Principles of Geology (1830-33).
The book was an instant popular success, running to twelve editions
by 1875.
Lyell was appointed Professor of Geology at King's College in
1831 and proved a colourful and capable speaker. However, his challenge
to traditional biblical chronology set the Professor on collision
course with the orthodox opinions of the College authorities. They
intervened to prohibit the attendance of women from a planned series
of Lyell's lectures at King's scheduled for the summer term of 1832.
The ban effectively forestalled public participation at the lectures
and made Lyell's position untenable. He resigned in October 1833.
Lyell subsequently cemented his reputation with further geological
expeditions, the publication of numerous classic texts including
Elements of Geology, and Presidency of the Geological Society.
He died in 1875.
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