Mary Anning (1799–1847)
She came from a poor family. After the death of her father, she supported her family by selling fossils found in the coastal rock of Lyme bay. The Icthyosaurus skeleton found with his brother is one of her famous discoveries. She read a lot of scientific literature and dissected animals to understand the anatomy of prehistoric animals. She became one of the most qualified paleontologist of her age by herself.