Mary Anning was a fossil collector born in 1799 in Lyme Regis. Growing up, she collected fossils with her father and found the first Ichthyosaurus, a marine reptile, when she was twelve. In 1823, she found the first complete skeleton of a Plesiosaurus followed by the first Pterosaur outside of Germany in 1828. Despite her groundbreaking discoveries, scientists did not recognize her work and the Geological Society of London did not admit her. Her contributions inspired other scientists as well as public interest in paleontology. Today, her fossils are on display at the Natural History Museum in London, and the “Jurassic Coast” is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Mary Anning
Paleontologist