Funds flood in to save Lyell’s diaries

More than 1,000 public pledges have boosted a near-£1 million campaign to keep the notebooks of Angus scientist Sir Charles Lyell in the UK.

Edinburgh University is leading the effort to buy the internationally renowned collection compiled by the Kirriemuir geologist credited with providing the foundation from which Charles Darwin developed his theories of evolution.

Lyell’s family lived at Kinnordy, and the 300 notebooks contain the material he collected for his own extensive catalogue of printed work.

The first 1,000 online pledges have helped take the fund to £670,000, leaving almost £300,000 to be raised by the mid-October sale deadline.

Lyell is regarded as one of the outstanding scientists in an age of remarkable thinkers, developing and helping to popularise earlier figures such as fellow Scots James Hutton and John Playfair. Through his writing and lectures, he established his influence, with his book Principles of Geology helping establish him as one of the founders of modern geology.

He mentored Darwin after the latter’s five-year voyage on the Beagle in 1836, and the notebooks include copies of correspondence between the two.

The diaries go beyond Lyell’s scientific endeavours too, reflecting his thoughts on women in science, US slavery and his relationships with some of the 19th Century’s most influential figures.

The works are in private ownership and remain the subject of a government export bar until October, in the hope they will find a new home in the UK.

Three-quarters of the first 1,000 pledges were from the UK, but support has also come from Australia, Brazil, Fiji, Finland, Iran, Japan and the US.

Broadcaster and trustee of the Royal Geographical Society Nick Crane said: “This is an exceptional collection in the story of earth science, and people from home and overseas clearly believe the collection is worth saving.

“Hopefully, with a final push over the next six weeks, we will succeed in reaching our target.”

Kirriemuir scientist Charles Lyell is widely regarded as one of the founders of modern geology.