Sir Charles Lyell (1797-1875), 1st Baronet Kinnordy, British geologist. Lyell was born in Scotland but spent most of his youth in the New Forest in Hampshire. He was educated at Exeter College, Oxford, and on graduating became a lawyer. Later his private income allowed him to concentrate on geology. His vast work Principles of Geology formed the basis of much of modern geology, especially stratigraphy, and he made major contributions to the study of earthquakes and volcanoes. Although he was a great friend to and influence on Darwin, he only partly accepted evolutionary theory due to his deep religious beliefs.