Florence Nightingale

Florence Nightingale, OM (12 May 1820–13 August 1910), who came to be known as The Lady with the Lamp, was the pioneer of modern nursing. Each year, the International Nurses Day is celebrated on her birth anniversary.

Rejection of marriage proposal

In 1851 she rejected the marriage proposal of politician and poet Richard Monckton Milnes, 1st Baron Houghton, against her mother's wishes. Convinced that marriage would interfere with her ability to follow her calling to nursing, Nightingale continued to reject his proposal.

Related Topics:
1851 - Richard Monckton Milnes, 1st Baron Houghton

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When in Rome in 1847, recovering from a mental breakdown precipitated by a continuing crisis of her relationship with Milnes, Nightingale met Sidney Herbert, a brilliant politician who had been Secretary at War (1845 – 46), a position he would hold again (1852 – 1854) during the Crimean War. Herbert was already married but he and Nightingale were immediately attracted to each other and they became life-long close friends. Herbert was instrumental in facilitating Nightingale's pioneering work in Crimea and in the field of nursing, and Nightingale became a key advisor to Herbert in his political career.

Related Topics:
Rome - 1847 - Mental breakdown - Sidney Herbert - Secretary at War - 1845 - 46 - 1852 - 1854 - Crimean War

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