Maria Sibylla Merian
Maria Sibylla Merian (2 April 164713 January 1717) was a German-born naturalist and scientific illustrator, a descendant of the Frankfurt branch of the Swiss Merian family. Merian was one of the first naturalists to observe insects directly.
Maria Daelder
Maria Daelder was born in Amsterdam in the Netherlands. She married the wealthy vine merchant Sibrant Valck (1632-1681) and settled in the newly founded Gothenburg in Sweden, where a great part of the inhabitants at this point was Dutch. Maria Daelder managed her own business separate from that of her husband; she imported and sold vine and textile and managed a flourishing banking business where she lend clients money for interest. Her business is evident from at least the years 1666–1676, from which her account books are preserved. Her business has been the object of research and are somewhat remarkable: according to the law of the time, a married woman was a legal minor under the guardianship of her husband and thus had no legal right to manage business of her own separate from her husband (though it was common for wives to assist their husband's in their business). Maria Daelder, however, appears to have managed her own affairs completely separated from her husband's, with her own account books and without his legal interference, evidently with his support. She was reportedly successful and left a fortune at her death.