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Florence Nightingale was a legend in her lifetime but the Crimean War years which made her famous were just two out of a life of ninety years. 

Early Years
Florence Nightingale was born in Italy on 12 May 1820 and was named Florence after her birthplace. Her parents, William Edward and Frances Nightingale were a wealthy couple, who had toured Europe for two years on their honeymoon.

Her Life

Her Quotes

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During their travels their first daughter, Parthenope, was born in Naples (Parthenope being the Greek name for the city), followed one year later by Florence.

Call From God
Florence and Parthenope were taught at home by their Cambridge University educated father. Florence was an academic child, who loved her lessons and found studying easy, while her sister excelled at painting and needlework.
Florence grew up to be a lively and attractive young woman, admired in the family's social circle and she was expected to make a good marriage, but Florence had other concerns.
In 1837, whilst in the gardens at Embley Florence had what she described as her 'calling'. Florence heard the voice of God calling her to do his work, but at this time she had no idea what that work would be.

The Crimean War.
In March 1854 Britain, France and Turkey declared war on Russia. The allies defeated the Russians at the battle of the Alma in September but reports in The Times criticised the British medical facilities for the wounded.
In response, Sidney Herbert, the Minister at War, who knew Florence Nightingale socially and through her work at Harley Street, appointed her to oversee the introduction of female nurses into the military hospitals in Turkey.
The 'Lady-in-Chief', as Florence was called, wrote home on behalf of the soldiers. She acted as a banker, sending the men's wages home to their families, and introduced reading rooms to the hospital. In return she gained the undying respect of the British soldiers.
The introduction of female nurses to the military hospitals was an outstanding success, and to show the nation's gratitude for Miss Nightingale's hard work a public subscription was organised in November 1855. The money collected was to enable Florence Nightingale to continue her reform of nursing in the civil hospitals of Britain. 
For her contribution to Army statistics and comparative hospital statistics in 1860 Florence Nightingale became the first woman to be elected a fellow of the Statistical Society.
In 1865 she settled at 10 South Street, Mayfair, in the West End of London and apart from occasional visits to Embley, Lea Hurst and to her sister at Claydon House she lived there till her death.
Nightingale Training School for Nurses.
In 1860, with the public subscriptions of the Nightingale Fund, she established the Nightingale
Training School for nurses at St Thomas' Hospital..
Once trained the nurses were sent to staff hospitals in Britain and abroad and to establish nurse training schools on the 'Nightingale Model.'
In 1860 Florence Nightingale's best known work, Notes on Nursing, was published. It laid down the principles of nursing: careful observation and sensitivity to the patient's needs. Notes on Nursing has been translated into eleven foreign languages and is still in print today.
for hospitals in Britain.
Old Age
In recognition of her hard work Queen Victoria awarded Miss Nightingale the Royal Red Cross in 1883. In her old age she received many honours, including the Order of Merit (1907), becoming the first woman to receive it.Florence Nightingale died at home at the age of 90 on 13 August 1910 and, according to her wishes, she was buried at St Margaret's, East Wellow, near her parent's home, Embley Park