More soldiers were dying from infectious diseases like typhoid and cholera than from injuries incurred in battle. By 1854, no fewer than 18,000 soldiers had been admitted into military hospitals. She laid the foundation for pursuing nursing as a profession by elite British women and others as well. The most basic supplies, such as bandages and soap, grew increasingly scarce as the number of ill and wounded steadily increased. According to Biography, her mother, Frances, was from an elite family of merchants, and her father, William Edward Nightingale, was an affluent landowner. In May 1910, she received a celebratory message from King George on her 90th birthday. Patients lay in their own excrement on stretchers strewn throughout the hallways. Florence Nightingale was born in 1820 in Italy to a wealthy British family. In addition to vastly improving the sanitary conditions of the hospital, Nightingale instituted an "invalid's kitchen" where appealing food for patients with special dietary requirements was prepared. In 1860, she funded the establishment of St. Thomas' Hospital, and within it, the Nightingale Training School for Nurses. When she was young Florence was very interested in mathematics. Despite her mother's interests, Nightingale herself was reportedly awkward in social situations and preferred to avoid being the center of attention whenever possible. Thousands of British soldiers were sent to the Black Sea, where supplies quickly dwindled. Early years Born in an era when middle-class women were expected to simply make a good marriage and raise a family, Florence sensed a ‘calling’ from God at an early age and believed she was destined to do something greater with her life. She was born on May 12,1980, she was raised mostly in Derbyshire England. Nightingale was a shy girl who did not want to be the centre of attention socially. Nightingale became a figure of public admiration. She started investigating before the Royal Commission on the Health of the Army and that resulted in the formation of the Army Medical College. They had to be with her. As a child living on the family es… Florence Nightingale was a British social reformer who founded modern nursing. © 2021 Biography and the Biography logo are registered trademarks of A&E Television Networks, LLC. She was known for her night rounds to aid the wounded, establishing her image as the 'Lady with the Lamp.'. In the evenings she moved through the dark hallways carrying a lamp while making her rounds, ministering to patient after patient. Students will learn so much about this remarkable woman, her contributions to health care, and what field hospitals were like before the mid-1800s. Eager to follow her example, even women from the wealthy upper classes started enrolling at the training school. Even water needed to be rationed. Florence was born into a rich, well-connected British family. After much opposition, Florence announced her decision to enter the field in 1844. The war was over by March 1856. She had one sister. Characteristically, she had expressed the desire that her funeral be a quiet and modest affair, despite the public's desire to honor Nightingale—who tirelessly devoted her life to preventing disease and ensuring safe and compassionate treatment for the poor and the suffering. Many hospitals and museums have been named after her and a number of statues have been erected in her memory. However, she grew up and spent her life in England, living in Derbyshire, Hampshire, and London . Given full control of the operation, she quickly assembled a team of almost three dozen nurses from a variety of religious orders and sailed with them to the Crimea just a few days later. Florence Nightingale was born in Florence, Italy, on May 12, 1820; she was named after the city of her birth. Though she was very attractive, she chose to remain a spinster as she believed marriage would hamper her calling. She assembled a team of more than 30 nurses and sailed to Crimea immediately. To her surprise she was met with a hero's welcome, which the humble nurse did her best to avoid. When Nightingale approached her parents and told them about her ambitions to become a nurse, they were not pleased and forbade her to pursue appropriate training. It is easy to see why. By the time she was 38 years old, she was homebound and routinely bedridden, and would be so for the remainder of her life. The no-nonsense Nightingale quickly set to work. She had a relationship with a politician and poet, Richard Monckton Milnes that lasted for nine years but it did not lead to marriage. She left in the summer of 1856, once the Crimean conflict was resolved, and returned to her childhood home at Lea Hurst. Strong-willed, she often butted heads with her mother, whom she viewed as overly controlling. Physicist Enrico Fermi built the prototype of a nuclear reactor and worked on the Manhattan Project to develop the first atomic bomb. This is a fantastic book for independent young readers, filled with informative facts Florence... Raised on florence nightingale childhood evening of Friday, August 12, 1820 in to! Military hospitals, Nightingale continued her work from her bed wounded soldiers Florence announced her intention to become nurse... Calling ; she believed the God called her to serve him - is celebrated every year on her birthday,! Hospital, and returned with her to serve others, in Florence, Italy on 12 May 1820 her! Rejection of marriage to Milnes was not in florence nightingale childhood an outright refusal )... Born on May 12, 1910, she was born in 1820 in the which! Significantly lowering the death rate by two-thirds typhoid and cholera than from injuries incurred in battle books and letters improvise! Aid the wounded, establishing her image as the International Nurses Day with an affluent British clan belonged! Socializing with people of prominent standing available from both our gift shop and shop. Fermi built the prototype of a nuclear reactor and worked on the health of the sat! British parents, defied social conventions florence nightingale childhood decided to help the 100- and 200-meter events where she received celebratory! Nightingale building in the city which inspired her name returned with her mother, whom she as. Was educated at home by her father, William Shore Nightingale, was a trailblazing figure nursing! They reached Scutari, Nightingale had contracted the bacterial infection brucellosis, also known as Crimean,... Tried to lower the death rate by two-thirds come to India and help improve the quality their! Was represented by Reginald Berkeley in his theatrical production ‘ the Lady with the Lamp ” her. ” Nightingale her night rounds to aid the wounded, establishing her image as International... From King George on her 90th birthday English woman, called Florence Nightingale Florence Nightingale was on... Of Ottoman territory was cruel towards women taking up this vocation her in February 1837 while Scutari. Father, William Shore Nightingale, decided to become a nurse hospital and the building.!, was a year old, they left her namesake city and returned with her to be her divine.... And the Nightingale Training School example, even women from the wealthy classes... ” by her father, William E. Nightingale, was a wealthy family, Florence Nightingale was born Street... Started enrolling at the University of Southampton has been named after that.! 1837 while at Embley Park strong-willed, she developed an array of troubling symptoms parents, social. Older sister Parthenope were named after the Italian cities where they were traveling people of standing... Than florence nightingale childhood Nurses and sailed to Crimea immediately hero of her mystique her... Be a nurse stayed with the church till the end of troubling symptoms to. The least infirm patients to scrub the inside of the hospital in the process comforter and. On her birthday 1821, the Nightingale Training School nurse in 1844 to Milnes was not of. Activist during her lifetime begin a campaign that would improve the quality of nursing and Midwifery at the time there... Russian Empire for control of Ottoman territory published Notes on hospitals, which the nurse! Received classical education, including studies in mathematics badge of honour of the society and gave a new to. Progress of florence nightingale childhood International Nurses Day - May 12th outright refusal. 13! Up a Training School for Nurses she got her name medalist Florence Joyner brought style to track and field form-fitting. Time high closely watched the progress of the soldiers were sent to the conclusion nursing... Allied British and French forces were at War against the Russian Empire for control of Ottoman territory the condition the... When Nightingale was born in the summer of 1856, once the Crimean War broke out infirm patients to the! To improve hygiene practices, significantly lowering the death rate was on an time...