In Nature for July 22, Crispin Tickell draws attention to a remarkable Dorset woman born two centuries ago in May, 1799. Mary Anning was the daughter of a carpenter-joiner who took an interest in collecting the geological curiosities of his native Lyme Regis and kept a shop where he could sell them to interested visitors. Mary was educated at the local school and learnt from her father the mysteries of fossil hunting. After her father died in 1810, she decided to make a meagre living by collecting and selling fossils and other geological specimens for which her locality was renowned in scientific circles.
In 1811, Mary discovered bones in a rock fragment projecting from the base of the cliff, and hired some men to detach a lias slab some 30ft long in which they were situated. This found its way to the British Museum, where experts argued over how to name the extinct monster. It was eventually named Ichthyosaurus. Shortly afterwards Mary discovered the first remains of Plesiosaurus and the first Pterodactyl. She was enterprising enough to grind up the pigment sacs of fossil belemnites to make a useful ink.
Her skill in excavating strange creatures led to her assistance being sought by many celebrated natural historians. On the strength of this she was awarded a small pension from the government of the day.
In March, 1847, Mary died from cancer and was buried in the churchyard of Lyme. Some 15 years later she was commemorated by a plaque set up in Lyme church by the Geological Society. The town found her death a sore loss, since her fame had attracted many scientifically inclined visitors, not only from Britain but from overseas.