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Maria Montessori was born on August 31, 1870, in Chiaravalle, Italy.
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At the age of 13, Maria began to attend an all-boys technical institute to prepare for a career in engineering.
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Maria eventually changed course on her life path. She attended medical school. Upon graduation in 1896, she was among Italy's first female physicians.
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Mario was Maria's son, born out of wedlock with a fellow doctor, Giuseppe Montesano.
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In 1907, Maria accepted a the challenge to open a childcare center in a poor inner-city district. This became the first Casa dei Bambini, a quality learning environment for young children.
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By 1910, Montessori schools were acclaimed worldwide.
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At the invitation of Margaret Wilson, daughter of the President of US, Maria visited the United States and toured the Montessori house established in Washington D.C. by Alexander Bell. She returned to the US in 1915 to establish a house in San Fransisco.
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Due to tension between Britain and Italy during WWII, Maria was forced to remain in Italy from 1940 until the end of the war.
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Maria was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for 1949, 1950, and 1951. Sadly, she did not receive the prize.
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Maria died in a friend's garden in the Netherlands.
