LYELL,
a surname derived from de Lisle, modernised into De Lyle, first
assumed by the proprietors of some of the western isles in the reign
of Malcolm Canmore. It is the same as the English Lisle, at one
period De L’Isle, one ancient family of that surname having borrowed
it from the Isle of Wight, and another from the Isle of Ely.
The Lyells of Kinnordy in Forfarshire, an estate once
possessed by the Invercarity branch of the noble house of Airlie,
have distinguished themselves by their scientific and geological
attainments. Charles Lyell, Esq. of Kinnordy, an eminent botanist,
and for many years vice-lieutenant of Forfarshire, who died November
8th 1849, was the discoverer of a great number of British
plants previously unknown. so high was the estimation in which he
was held that a genus of plants (Lyellia) was named after him by Mr.
Robert Brown, and Sir William Hooker and Professor Lindley, two
botanists of the first distinction, each dedicated one of their
works to him. He was educated at the college of St. Andrews, and
afterwards went to the university of Cambridge. In 1826 he returned
to his paternal estate, in the parish of Kirriemuir, where he
devoted himself to scientific, botanical, and literary pursuits. He
translated the lyrical poems of Dante, the first edition of which,
printed at his own cost, was so well received that a London
publisher obtained permission to issue a second on his own account.
His essay on ‘The Anti-Papal Spirit of Dante’ shows a profound
knowledge of mediaeval Italian literature and history, and is full
of enlarged and philosophical views. His collection of the various
editions of that great Italian poet, and the writings of his
numerous commentators, and of authors illustrative of Dante and his
times, was very great. He also left an extensive botanical library.
In the New Statistical Account (article KIRRIEMUIR) it is stated
that there is among the archives of the Church of Scotland a MS.,
written by Mr. Lyell, containing a valuable and elaborate article on
the habitat of the plants of the parish of Kirriemuir, beginning at
its lower extremity to the south, and extending to the high lands of
Glenprosen. His eldest son, Sir Charles Lyell, president of the
Geological Society in 1836-7, and author of ‘Principles of Geology,’
3 vols, London, 1830-3; ‘Elements of Geology,’ 2 vols. Lond., 1838;
both of which works have passed through several editions; ‘Travels
in North America; with Geological Observations on the United States,
Canada, and Nova Scotia,’ 2 vols, 12mo, London, 1845; ‘A Second
Visit to the United States,’ 2 vols, 8vo, London, 1849; and various
papers in scientific journals, was knighted at Balmoral by Queen
Victoria in 1848. Born at Kinnordy in 1797, he married in 1832 the
eldest daughter of Leonard Horner, Esq.
