Famous Lives: Florence Nightingale by Kay Woodward
Florence Nightingale was born in 1820 to a wealthy family. Against the wishes of her parents, Florence soon realized her dream to nurse and became superintendent at a hospital in Harley Street, London. However, it was for her work during the Crimean War that Florence is most remembered. Upon arrival at the British army hospital in Scutari, Turkey, Florence and her nurses set about bringing order to the filthy, diseased chaos that greeted them. Sickened by what she had witnessed at Scutari, at the end of the war Florence returned to London where she dedicated the remainder of her life campaigning for better nursing facilities both in the army and civilian life. This title can be used as a reference for Key Stage 2 (ages 7-11 years) History, where Florence Nightingale is cited in the National Curriculum under "Victorian Britain - impact of significant individuals and events".