Mary Anning

Mary Anning was born in Lyme Regis in 1799. He parents were Richard and Mary Anning. Richard and Mary had as many as ten children, but only two of these children, Mary and Joseph, reached maturity.

She discovered large numbers of fossils in Lyme Regis, where the rocks are Jurassic age. These fossils showed that some living things had changed over time, and that some had died out and become extinct. 

She was credited with finding the first ichthyosaur specimen at the age of 11. Mary collected fossils which were sold in her father's curiosity shop. Many museums have specimens of marine reptiles which Mary Anning discovered.

She died in 1847.