Women Scientists

Mary Anning 1799-1847

At a glance:

the greatest fossilist the world has ever known

Mary Anning was said to 'understand more of the science of paleontology than anyone else in this kingdom' but she was a woman, moreover one of low social class, in a man's kingdom. She lived and died in Lyme Regis, on the South coast of England. It's cliffs are rich in fossils from seas of the Jurassic period. The Anning family lived in dire poverty, occasionally selling fossils to gentlemen collectors. A professional collector, Thomas Birch raised money to help them and Mary with her keen eye and accomplished skills as an anatomist soon established herself as a respected fossil hunter. She found the first pleisiosaur, which remains the type specimen for all others and made many other great discoveries including a pterodactyl and several ichthyosaurs. Her discoveries became key pieces of evidence for extinction, Her enormous contribution to paleontology was forgotten on her death, partly because it troubled the educated to think that someone uneducated like Mary could have such great intellectual skills
Mary Anning

Thank you for voting in our search for the most celebrated female scientist of all time

Please note that generic images have been used for some of the scientists where the costs of the image rights have been prohibitive.

Comments

No one has added any comments about Mary Anning yet. Why not be the first?



Add your own comment