User:Rach1952/Mary Jane Hancock

Early life
Jane Hancock was born in Newcastle in 1810 to John Hancock Sr, a saddle maker, alongside two brothers- John and Albany Hancock. Jane took inspiration from their father John, and developed a fascination with nature. Jane took self directed expeditions through county Durham and Northumberland.

Life Work
Jane Hancock had a passion for nature and butterflies she once said she feels at home hearing the birds tweet. She was also a housekeeper for her brother Albany She is also a noble citizen by giving the public her brother books once he passed away.

Legacy
Mary Jane Hancock died on the 27th November 1896. Before her death, she handed over her family's collections of works to the Natural History Society of Northumbria. This included the work of her late brother Anthony Hancock, which consisted of his original drawings of the British Nudibrauchiate Mollusca. The Great North Museum: Hancock holds more than 300 of her own botany specimens, and the Natural History Society of Northumbria holds more than 60 of her paintings.