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Early Life And Family Hardship
- Mary Anning survived being struck by lightning as a baby and grew up in poor, politically active family in Lyme Regis.
- Her father sold fossils to tourists and later died after a cliff collapse, forcing Mary into fossil hunting to support her family.
Breaking Fossil Discoveries
- At 12 Mary dug up the first complete ichthyosaur skeleton after her brother found the skull.
- Her later plesiosaur discovery at 24 made her famous but did not make her wealthy due to class and gender barriers.
Recognition Blocked By Sex And Class
- Despite major discoveries, Mary faced sexism and class snobbery that blocked recognition and publishing.
- Collectors and museums bought her fossils but often took credit for describing them.