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Mary Anning
1799–1847 · Paleontologist
A self-taught fossil hunter who found some of the most important prehistoric fossils ever discovered, transforming our understanding of ancient life.
“The world has used me so unkindly, I fear it has made me suspicious of everyone.”
Why is this scientist famous?
Helped uncover an important, largely complete ichthyosaur skeleton with her brother Joseph in 1811–1812 and discovered a remarkably complete plesiosaur in 1823.
Anning was a self-taught fossil hunter who found some of the first complete dinosaur-era skeletons, including the first plesiosaur. Her discoveries helped scientists realize that species could go extinct — a radical idea at the time. Every museum dinosaur display and every fossil you see in a classroom owes a debt to the woman who scoured the cliffs of Lyme Regis and changed how we see life's history.
Mary's story
Early Life
Born in 1799 in Lyme Regis, Dorset, Mary Anning was the daughter of a cabinetmaker who collected fossils to supplement his income. The family was poor, and after her father died, Mary and her brother Joseph collected fossils to sell to tourists. She had almost no formal education but taught herself anatomy, geology, and paleontology from the specimens she found.
The Ichthyosaurus
In autumn 1811, Mary Anning’s brother Joseph discovered the skull of an enormous fossil marine reptile. In November 1812, Mary, then aged 13, uncovered much of the rest of its skeleton. The largely complete specimen became one of the earliest ichthyosaurs to be studied scientifically, helping naturalists piece together the history of long-extinct sea creatures.
The Plesiosaurus and Pterosaur
In 1823, Anning discovered the first nearly complete, articulated Plesiosaurus skeleton — a long-necked marine reptile so bizarre that some scientists thought it was a fake. In 1828, she found the first British pterosaur (flying reptile) skeleton. These discoveries showed that prehistoric oceans and skies were filled with creatures unlike anything alive today.
Unrecognized Genius
Despite her extraordinary discoveries, Anning was excluded from the Geological Society of London — women were not admitted. Wealthy male geologists published papers about her fossils without crediting her. She struggled financially her entire life. When she died of breast cancer in 1847 at age 47, the Geological Society finally published a tribute to her.
What did they discover?
Early Largely Complete Ichthyosaur
After Joseph Anning found the skull in 1811, Mary uncovered much of the rest of the ichthyosaur skeleton in 1812, at the age of 13.
Early Nearly Complete Plesiosaur
Found the first nearly complete, articulated plesiosaur skeleton in December 1823; its unusual anatomy prompted scrutiny before experts accepted the find.
First British Pterosaur
Discovered the first pterosaur (flying reptile) skeleton found in Britain in 1828.
Amazing facts
She was struck by lightning as a baby and survived — the same event killed three women standing nearby.
Her brother Joseph found a giant ichthyosaur skull in 1811; Mary excavated much of the rest of the fossil when she was 13.
Anning helped identify preserved ink sacs from extinct belemnites, relatives of modern squid and cuttlefish.
She was not allowed to join the Geological Society of London because she was a woman.
She discovered fossils of creatures that proved extinction was real — a controversial idea at the time.
She was so skilled at finding fossils that geologists came from across Europe to buy from her.
Timeline
Born in Lyme Regis, Dorset on May 21
Survived being struck by lightning as a 15-month-old baby
At age 13, excavated much of the ichthyosaur skeleton after her brother Joseph had found its skull in 1811
Discovered the first complete Plesiosaurus skeleton
Opened her own fossil shop in Lyme Regis
Discovered the first British pterosaur skeleton
Found remains of the fossil fish Squaloraja, now identified as a type of chimaera (ghost shark)
The Geological Society of London published a tribute to her — the first for a woman
Died of breast cancer in Lyme Regis on March 9, age 47
Awards & honours
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