Mary Anning was born on May 21, 1799. Letters from Gondwana has a great write up on her life. She has been referred to as "the greatest fossilist of the 19th century". Just a couple of her many accomplishments:
- Found an excellent Ichthyosaur at age 12 in 1811
- Discovered the first Plesiosaurus in 1823
- Discovered a preserved ink bag from Belemnoidea. Remarkably, the ink survived fossilization and was usable in pens!
- Found some of the first documented coprolites
- Discovered an animal that eventually became Dimorphodon macronyx
- Discovered Squaloraja - part shark, part ray in 1829
- Discovered Plesiosaurus macrocephalus in 1830
- It has been documented that she was the inspiration of "She Sells Seashells"
