Mary Anning

Mary Anning (1799-1847) was a pioneering English fossil collector and paleontologist, known for her significant discoveries along the Jurassic Coast of Lyme Regis in Dorset. Despite limited formal education, she made groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of prehistoric life, including the first complete Ichthyosaurus and Plesiosaurus fossils. Anning's work laid important foundations for the field of paleontology and challenged contemporary beliefs about extinction. Although her contributions were often overlooked during her lifetime, she is now recognized as a key figure in the history of science, inspiring future generations of scientists, particularly women in paleontology.