Mary Ward (1827-1869) was encouraged to nurture her love of
nature from a young age. Born into to a renowned scientific
family in Co. Offaly, Ireland, she was educated at home with her
sisters and by the age of three had developed a penchant for
collecting bugs. These insects became the subject of study for
Mary, and with the help of a magnifying glass she began
meticulously drawing and reproducing their details. By a stroke
of luck, astronomer James South discovered the drawings, and was
so impressed with her talent that he persuaded her father to
invest in a microscope. This opportunity was a turning point in
Mary's life. Owning her own microscope allowed her to transform
her love of insects into full-blown, self-taught microscopy. She
spent her time reading everything she could get her hands on
regarding the subject, and became so skilled that her knowledge
surpassed that of most experts. Over the years she wrote a
series of books, of which A World of Wonders Revealed by the
Microscope (1858) was reprinted