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Back	Florence Nightingale A short history

1845

Florence was born on May 12th 1820 in Italy. She felt that she was being called to serve others in some way but wasn't sure how. In 1844 she had the idea that she could serve by working in hospitals. She went to work and at the same time train as a nurse at Salisbury Royal Infirmary. She soon became an expert on hygiene.

She worked very hard.
In 1853 she found her first 'paid' job. It was in an 'Establishment for Gentlewomen During Illness' at no. 1 Upper Harley Street, London. She worked there until October, 1854.

Turkey, France, England and Sardinia had gone to war with Russia in the Crimea. Florence is asked to go to help nurse British soldiers who have been wounded. Despite catching Typhus Fever in 1855 Florence saves many lives. After the war she returned to England where she met Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

1856

In 1859 Florence wrote a small book called 'Notes on Nursing', with a special section on taking care of babies. The book sells millions of copies all over the world.

In 1860 she opened the Nightingale Training School for nurses at St Thomas Hospital in London. Florence almost single-handedly invents modern nursing as we know it today.

In 1861 Florence became ill. She could not walk and for the next six years had to be carried from room to room.

For the next 30 years, despite ill health, she continued to work from her home at 35 South Street, London.
By 1896 she was so frail that she was confined to her bedroom. Still she continued to work.
On August 13, 1910, she fell asleep about noon and did not wake again.
She was buried in the family grave at East Wellow, and her coffin was carried by six sergeants of the British Army.

Her only memorial is a line on the family tombstone "F. N. Born 1820. Died 1910.' She had lived for ninety years and three months."

A detailed timeline, with pictures ...