Maria Montessori
Maria Tecla Artemisia Montessori was an Italian physician and educator best known for the philosophy of education that bears her name, and her writing on scientific pedagogy. Her educational method is in use today in some public and private schools throughout the world.
Montessori was born on August 31, 1870 in Chiaravalle, Italy. Her father, Alessandro Montessori,years old at the time, was an official of the Ministry of Finance working in the local staterun tobacco factory. Her mother, Renilde Stoppani,years old, was well educated for the times and was the greatniece of Italian geologist and paleontologist Antonio Stoppani. While she did not have any particular mentor, she was very close to her mother who readily encouraged her. She also had a loving relationship with her father, although he disagreed with her choice to continue her education.
Source: Wikipedia