Nightingale's early life

Florence Nightingale was named for Florence, Italy, where she was born on May 12, 1820, while her wealthy British parents were living abroad. Her childhood was spent on the family estates in England with her mother, father, and sister, Parthenope. Mrs. Nightingale taught her daughters the social graces and how to run a large household. Their father, William, tutored them in languages, history, and philosophy.

At the age of 16, Florence thought she heard the voice of God telling her she had a special mission in life. She suspected this mission had something to do with helping other people. Florence had always enjoyed caring for the babies of her parents' visitors and for sick farmers on her father's estates.

Meanwhile, Florence was pulled reluctantly into the swirl of parties and other functions characteristic of her social position. She was presented to Queen Victoria at the appropriate time and also traveled in Europe.

But Florence had not forgotten her purpose in life. She turned down suitors, declined many parties, and spent much of her time studying health and reforms for the poor and suffering. This was unheard-of behavior for a wealthy girl. Mrs. Nightingale could not accept it.

Her family's opposition initially prevented Florence from working in a hospital. She took a step toward independence when she entered the Institution of Deaconesses, a Protestant school for training nurses, in Kaiserswerth, a town near Dusseldorf, Germany. She later studied in Paris. At 33, she became superintendent of a women's hospital in London.

Excerpt adapted from the "Florence Nightingale" article, The World Book Encyclopedia © 1999