A painting of Mary Anning while fossil hunting along England’s Jurassic Coast with her dog, Tray. B. J. M. Donne - Public Domain
The Field Museum has an interesting post about Mary Anning. There's a good summary about her life, her work, and her accomplishments and contributions to paleontology when women couldn't really participate. Even today, she is inspiring to many of the many talented women in science.
It’s quite a testament to her life and achievements that, 223 years after her birth, we’re still talking about Mary Anning. She discovered and collected many fossils of iconic Jurassic reptiles, including the first Plesiosaurus known to science, and the first pterosaur species found in England. Her life is a tale of struggle against poverty and misogyny—particularly within the field of science—but it’s also a tale of an adventurous spirit, a curious mind, and an enduring love of knowledge and discovery. Because of her discoveries, we celebrate Mary Anning today, and likely for many centuries to come.
Born on May 21, 1799, to parents Molly and Richard, Mary was named after an older sister who perished in a house fire only five months before. Out of 10 children, only Mary and her brother Joseph survived to maturity, giving some context to the quality of life for that era, especially for the poor. Barely past her first birthday, she survived a freak accident at an outdoor equestrian demonstration. Elizabeth Haskins, a local nurse who occasionally helped Molly with the children, offered to take Mary to the event. However, that August afternoon turned deadly when a thunderstorm erupted over the hillside. Elizabeth, holding Mary and accompanied by two other women, ran for cover under a tree. The tree was hit by lightning and, tragically, the three women died. Miraculously, Mary survived.
