Mary Anning

Mary Anning (1799-1847) was a pioneering English paleontologist from Lyme Regis, known for discovering crucial Jurassic marine fossils like the first ichthyosaur and plesiosaur skeletons, despite poverty and gender barriers that excluded her from scientific societies. Her finds revolutionized understanding of prehistoric life, but she often received little credit, though she gained respect from leading scientists for her expertise and self-taught knowledge. Her legacy endures through the fossils she found, now inspiring women in science and securing her place as a foundational figure in paleontology. 

This video provides an overview of Mary Anning's life and her significant contributions to paleontology:

Early Life & The Jurassic Coast

• Humble Beginnings: Born into poverty in Lyme Regis, Dorset, Anning began collecting fossils as a child with her father, Richard, to help support their family, who were religious dissenters.

• Fossil Hunting: She learned to hunt fossils in the dangerous, landslide-prone cliffs of the "Jurassic Coast," quickly developing a sharp eye for "curiosities" (fossils). 

Major Discoveries & Scientific Impact

• Ichthyosaur: At age 12 (around 1811), she found the first correctly identified ichthyosaur skeleton, followed by more significant finds.

• Plesiosaur & Pterosaur: She later unearthed the first two nearly complete plesiosaur skeletons and the first pterosaur skeleton found outside Germany.

• Coprolites: Anning pioneered the study of coprolites (fossilized feces), identifying them as fossilized excrement from ancient marine reptiles.

• Scientific Influence: Her discoveries fundamentally challenged existing ideas about Earth's history and extinct life, though male scientists often received credit, as she couldn't join the Geological Society of London due to her gender and class. 

Later Life & Legacy

• "Geological Lioness": She became famous within scientific circles, known as the "Princess of Paleontology," but remained poor, selling fossils to support herself.

• Overcoming Barriers: Despite being self-taught and excluded from formal science, she built friendships with prominent geologists and became an expert, respected for her deep knowledge.

• Death & Recognition: She died of breast cancer in 1847 at age 47, but her contributions were later honored, including an obituary in the Geological Society of London's journal and a memorial window, securing her place as a foundational figure in paleontology. 

Mary Anning (1799–1847) was a pioneering English paleontologist whose discoveries in the cliffs of Lyme Regis transformed scientific understanding of prehistoric life. Despite her humble origins and the systemic barriers she faced as a woman in the 19th century, she became one of the most prolific fossil hunters in history. 

Early Life and "Curiosities"

• Humble Beginnings: Born on May 21, 1799, in Lyme Regis, Dorset, Mary was one of only two children in her family to survive to adulthood.

• The Lightning Strike: As an infant, Mary survived a lightning strike that killed three others, an event locals later credited for her sharp intellect.

• Family Trade: Her father, a cabinetmaker, supplemented their income by selling "curiosities" (fossils) to tourists. After his death in 1810, Mary and her brother Joseph took over the trade to support their family. 

Major Scientific Discoveries

Anning's work along the Jurassic Coast led to several world-first discoveries: 

• Ichthyosaur (1811): At age 12, Mary and Joseph unearthed the first complete Ichthyosaurus skeleton, which was initially mistaken for a crocodile.

• Plesiosaur (1823): She discovered the first complete Plesiosaurus skeleton, a find so unusual it was initially accused of being a fake by prominent scientists like Georges Cuvier.

• Pterosaur (1828): She found the first pterosaur (Dimorphodon) skeleton outside of Germany, proving these "flying dragons" once lived in Britain.

• Coprolites & Ink Sacs: Mary pioneered the study of fossilized feces (coprolites) and discovered that belemnite fossils contained preserved ink sacs similar to modern cephalopods. 

Professional Challenges and Recognition

• Exclusion from Science: As a working-class woman and religious dissenter, Anning was barred from joining the Geological Society of London.

• Lack of Credit: Male scientists often bought her fossils and published papers on them without citing her, leading her to feel that the world had "used her ill".

• Anning’s Fossil Depot: In 1826, she opened her own shop in Lyme Regis, which became a destination for geologists and collectors from around the world.

• Financial Support: Following financial setbacks and a failed investment in 1835, her scientific friends helped secure a government pension of £25 per year for her. 

Death and Legacy

Mary Anning died of breast cancer on March 9, 1847, at age 47. While largely uncredited in her lifetime, her legacy is now firmly established: 

• Scientific Impact: Her finds provided crucial evidence for the theory of extinction and the emerging field of paleontology.

• Honors: In 2010, the Royal Society named her one of the ten most influential British women in the history of science.

• Cultural Influence: She is widely believed to be the inspiration for the popular tongue twister, "She sells seashells on the seashore