Mary Anning (1799 - 1847)
English fossil collector, dealer, and palaeontologist;
she made many groundbreaking fossil discoveries in
the Jurassic marine fossil beds near her coastal home;
her findings helped change scientific thinking about
prehistoric life and the history of the Earth.
From a poor family and with only a basic education,
she struggled financially all her life;
although women were not allowed to join
the Geological Society of London, some male geologists
strove to arrange an income, a pension later in life,
and recognition for her important achievements.
Not before some of her discoveries had been appropriated by a male geologist. Fortunately she was credited and supported eventually. There's a good sculpture of her near the shore where she made many discoveries.
ReplyDeleteOhhh
ReplyDeleteYou have to see (if you haven’t) Ammonite. It’s a movie based on her life (with liberties) and has one of those scenes between two women that leaves you open-mouthed.
XOXO
@ Sixpence Notthewiser -- Yes, it's on my "Movies To Watch" list. I really need to get caught up!
DeleteI remember watching Ammonite, the movie about her. Of course, it focused on her special female friendship more than her discoveries but she is very interesting.
ReplyDeleteOf course we expect a woman's work to be stolen by her male coworkers, amazingly some of these men actually corrected the historical record.
ReplyDeleteCan you imagine being out in nature, digging up fossils, in a long dress and bonnet? Ye Gods!