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You are here: Home / Science / What Influence Did Charles Lyell Have On Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution?

What Influence Did Charles Lyell Have On Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution?

May 19, 2020 by Karen Hill

Charles Darwin took a copy of Charles Lyell’s Principles of Geology with him on his around the world research voyage aboard the HMS Beagle.

Darwin was just beginning to formulate his ideas on evolution, and Lyell’s findings would have a deep influence on him.

There’s little doubt that Lyell’s basic belief that Earth had undergone gradual changes for millions of years influenced Darwin’s thinking on evolution also.

When Darwin finally published his theory in On the Origin of Species in 1859, Lyell became one of his strongest supporters.

Darwin had deliberately left out any reference to the evolution of man in his book because he knew the uproar it would cause.

Lyell took up that cause by writing The Antiquity of Man, showing how man had also evolved gradually over millions of years.

In support of his argument, Lyell described some man-made flint tools found in rock layers dating from his Pliocene epoch, over 1 million years ago.

Lyell’s success with this book encouraged Darwin to publish his similar Descent of Man in 1871.

Related Facts

  • Who Was Sir Charles Lyell and When Did Lyell Publish His Book Principles of Geology?
  • What Were Charles Lyell’s Principles of Geology and How Did Lyell Determine the Age of the Earth?
  • Who Discovered the Theory of Evolution and the concept of survival of the fittest and When?
  • What Were the Theories On the Origin of Life On Earth Before Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution?
  • How Did Carl Linnaeus’ Work In Taxonomy Influence Charles Darwin and Did Linnaeus Believe In Evolution?
  • What Is Natural Selection and How Did Charles Darwin Develop the Theory of Evolution In 1838?

Filed Under: Science

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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