ETHELDRED BENETT: THE FIRST LADY GEOLOGIST WAS A PALEONTOLOGIST AND A STRATIGRAPHER

Although many have heard of Mary Anning (1799-1847), Etheldred Benett (1776-1845) preceded Anning as a woman geologist. Like Anning, Benett received little recognition for her contributions since her gender prevented her formal participation in professional societies.

Benett’s interest in fossils was fostered by the half-brother of her sister-in-law, and her independent wealth made it possible for her to pursue her interests. However, she was much more than a fossil collector: she carefully labeled and illustrated specimens, attempted new species identification, and compiled research monographs about her findings. By 1809, people were visiting her collections, primarily of Jurassic and Cretaceous age, and by 1810 she was corresponding with prominent contemporary geologists. Sowerby used several Benett specimens in his Mineral Conchology, while Buckland included a Benett specimen in the Bridgewater Treatises. Since Benett was generous with her specimens, many ended up in museums in the UK and beyond.

Benett likely felt limited by her gender, having written to Samuel Woodward (1836) “that scientific people in general have a very low opinion of the abilities of my sex.” Russia’s emperor thought her name masculine, and bestowed an honorary degree—unaware that he was communicating with a woman. Benett lamented in her Catalogue of Organic Remains of the County of Wilts that three scientific gentlemen had failed her in describing a new sponge genus, and as a result, she attempted to name it herself. She was careful, however, to note that Greenough approved her book, thereby shielding herself from criticism.

In spite of gender discrimination, Benett’s contributions to geology are documented, although limitedly so. She wrote the local Chalk Marl was unnoticed by William Smith, and she thoroughly described Wiltshire through its fossils. She determined the stratigraphy of the Upper Chicksgrove Quarry, which Sowerby directly transcribed for Mineral Conchology—without crediting his source. She may be the first woman to name fossil taxa. Therefore, Benett should be recognized as one of the first female geologists, since she amassed one of the earliest, best documented fossil collections with the precision and accuracy of contemporary (gentleman) paleontologists, and demonstrated stratigraphical skills in her analyses.