Against the odds, paleontologist Mary Anning (1799-1847) became a pioneering fossil collector, dealer, and self-taught paleontologist. She persevered despite encountering significant barriers as a woman in science. She learned to hunt for fossils along the Jurassic Coast from her father. This poor and uneducated girl became recognized as one of the ten most notable women scientists in history. In 1811, at twelve, she and her brother discovered the skull of an ichthyosaur, a m

Nancy Wake (1912-2010) ran away from home to be a nurse at 16, showing her fierce independence. Her daring also made her one of the most decorated heroines of WWII.

German troops crossed into Austria without resistance on the evening of March 11 after Hitler demanded that Austrian Chancellor Schuschnigg resign. On March 12, German forces entered Vienna to cheering crowds, with Austrians greeting Hitler enthusiastically. They annexed Austria on the 13th.

James McCune Smith (1813–1865) shattered 19th-century racial barriers as a physician, abolitionist, educator, and intellectual.