She could speak and write in French, German, Dutch, Spanish, and Swedish, which then became helpful for communicating with other geologists and literary figures.

[9] Mary and Charles Lyell were scientific partners; she accompanied him on field trips and assisted him by sketching geological drawings, packing their clothes, equipment and specimens, cataloguing their collections, learning Spanish and Swedish in addition to her spoken languages of French and German in order to assist with communications,[2] and acting as a scribe when his eyesight failed in later years.

[6] Horner Lyell's sketches and paintings involved outcrops, geologic structures, and cross sections that her and her husband would find.

[4] Horner Lyell worked all over the globe, from Highlands of Scotland, England, Central Europe (Rhine and Rhone Valleys), Switzerland, North Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and various areas of North America, including Mississippi, Ohio, Georgia, New England, and Nova Scotia, and lastly Madeira and the Canary Islands.

[11] She also freely discussed geologic phenomena with other famous scientists and their wives, such as Gideon Mantell, Thomas Henry Huxley, and both Louis Agassiz and his second wife Elizabeth who was a naturalist.

McKenney won and served in the position for 44 years, but sadly Horner Lyell died shortly afterward.

[13] She was even so well liked by Americans that a tribute to her was published in the Boston Daily Advertiser which said: “There are many hearts in the United States that will be saddened by the death of this admirable woman… In every part of it [she] had made warm and lasting friends… Strength and sweetness were hers, both in no common measure…”[6] Due to her overwhelming kindness and compassion, even the Boston Daily Advertiser published a tribute to honor her life.

[14]Although Horner Lyell had adequate knowledge in the field of geology, her work was not viewed with the same attention by other geologists of her time.

[10][15] In 1833 Horner Lyell was a strong advocate for women’s rights to attend lectures at King’s College in London.

[6] Horner Lyell often read books, drew pictures, and wrote letters for her husband Charles due to his weak eyesight.

[16] Due to Horner Lyell's knowledge of several languages, she was able to correspond with and translate letters from European professors, likely allowing her and her husband to further their research and gain further connections in the scientific field.