Florence Nightingale

Nurse / Activist

Florence Nightingale

Florence Nightingale deserves the nickname The Lady With the Lamp for her tireless and compassionate nursing of British soldiers during the Crimean War. Born to wealthy English parents in 1837, quick-wit was a hallmark of the independent child. According to Ms. Nightingale, a call from God led her become perhaps the world's best known nurse.

After the outbreak of the Crimean War in 1854, she led a controversial group of nurses, serving in British military hospitals. Before her time female field nursing was virtually unknown. No shrinking violet, she became instrumental in changing terrible conditions in hospitals, earning the gratitude of not only soldiers but also the public. After the war she spread sweeping reforms in medicine to London.

Works including Notes on Matters Affecting the Health, Efficiency and Hospital Administration of the British Army (1857) and Notes on Hospitals (1859) created significant changes in the treatment of patients. Controversy surrounds any writing by females in her time; however, her text set a new benchmark in both scientific and social circles. Founding Nightingale Training School for nurses, in later years, Nightingale holds the distinction of earning the Royal Red Cross of Queen Victoria in 1883, and in 1907. She also became the first woman to receive the Order of Merit.