And in other auspicious birthdays…
Mary Anning (1799–1847). No, no…that’s not Mary Anning in the picture. That there’s an ichthyosaur. She found it, and many others like it. She made a thumping contribution to the early days of dinosaurology but, being poor and a girl, didn’t get much credit for it in life.
I hate to play the wahmen in science card, but for once it’s true.
Her father was an ‘umble carpenter and died when she was 11, after which she and her brother scavenged junk on the beach to sell. That’s when she discovered Lyme Regis is stuffed with fossils. I mean, people barely knew what fossils were at that point; she and her brother thought they’d found an alligator skeleton.
But she soon got good. She had a knack, and fossils became big business. Not big enough, though – she scraped along in poverty her whole life and died a miserable death of breast cancer at the age of 47. She made many important discoveries, anyhow, and eventually got some well-deserved recognition. Posthumously. For what it’s worth.
OH! And she’s believed to be the inspiration for “she sells sea shells by the sea shore.” So there’s that.
Posted: May 22nd, 2019 under personal.
Comments: 6
Comments
Comment from Ric
Time: May 22, 2019, 10:16 pm
Is this the one they declared was a lesbian without any proof at all?
Comment from Durnedyankee
Time: May 23, 2019, 2:11 am
I’m trying to decide if it’s better to be famous in life and forgotten in death, or the other which way around.
Famous in life I imagine has advantages since you can to some extent take advantage of your fame to improve your lot.
Famous in death doesn’t help you much
personally I suppose, but at least you’re remembered.
And Ric, it would make moar sense that they declared her to be a female warrior lesbian transgender dragon kin – without a lick of evidence.
Comment from S. Weasel
Time: May 23, 2019, 9:59 am
I didn’t run across that while I was digging around about her, Ric. I feel sure it would have been in my face.
Comment from peacelovewoodstock
Time: May 23, 2019, 10:51 am
Which one was it, Heckle or Jeckle?
Comment from Ric Fan
Time: May 23, 2019, 1:41 pm
Mary Anning biopic director defends film’s lesbian romance storyline
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/mar/19/mary-anning-biopic-kate-winslet-fossil-hunter-film
Comment from DurnedYankee
Time: May 23, 2019, 5:25 pm
No dragonkin? That’s sexist against nonbinary genders!
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