Why Is Florence Nightingale So Popular

Many things do not pass the test of time, humans surely cannot live forever, but some of their accomplishments have become well known legacies for all. Like many Victorian women of the time, Florence Nightingale was a nineteenth century traveler, but unlike many of them, she was famously well known and talked about in the many circles of England and surrounding European countries. Of the nineteenth century women travelers, Nightingale is still very widely known and even celebrated today, mainly for her reform and founding of modern nursing. Why was Nightingale so popular throughout her time and now in the present? It is hard to come up with just one answer because the truth, I believe, is composed of many factors, her family’s beginning and aristocratic level, her travels around the world experiencing the many governments and political exposure, her lasting friendships and acquaintances made throughout her travels that would help her in later life, and, of course, improvements in technology, which made newspapers possible and more widely distributed.
One of Florence Nightingale’s first influences took place before she was even born, her family’s
wealth. Florence’s mother was Frances Smith, or Fanny, whose grandfather, Samuel Smith, was a London merchant that had gained great fortune. Frances’ father was William Smith, an abolitionist and Unitarian who served as Member of Parliament. It is speculated that Florence attained her political involvement from her grandfather, William Smith. Florence’s father was born William Edward Shore and, at the age of nine, inherited the Lea property in Derbyshire from his uncle, Peter Nightingale. While William grew up, his inheritance also grew from investments and the discovery of a lead mine in his property. When he became old enough, William changed his surname to Nightingale to match his uncle’s and became William Edward Nightingale. The inheritance made William very rich with annual income of around seven thousand to eight thousand pounds by his early twenties.
After France’s parents disapproved of her first choice of marriage to James Sinclair, she was engaged to William Edward Nightingale. He, surprisingly, did not mind being her second choice, even though Frances was 6 years older than him and almost thirty, but believed “Fanny would grow to love him and make a good, if not demanding, wife.” William Edward’s parents did not like his choice of Frances as a wife and believed he could do better, but they became aware of how much he loved and adored her that they put their opinions aside for the sake of their son’s happiness. Frances’ siblings also thought the marriage would not be good because of the many differences between her and William Edward, “with Fanny so bossy and talkative and ambitious and WEN (William Edward Nightingale) so silent and gawky and indecisive, they felt the two would never, in the long run, suit.” Frances’ parents on the other hand were very happy and pleased with the engagement, probably because they believed her reputation had been close to ruined from her involvement with James Sinclair. They were married on June 1, 1818 and almost immediately left for their honeymoon.
Florence Nightingale was born on May 12, 1820 in Florence, Italy during her parent’s extended honeymoon tour, named after her place of birth.
Her sister, Frances Parthenope, had been born a year earlier in Naples, where she was also named after her place of birth Greek. William Edward and Frances, both being quite intellectual, couldn’t find a governess for Florence and Parthenope to satisfy William’s “intellectual requirements” or Frances’ “standard of elegance and breeding.” Instead, William taught them history, grammar, composition, and philosophy, along with the languages, Greek, Latin, French, and Italian. They hired a governess only to teach the pair music and art. With Florence having inherited her father’s intellectuality she became very close to him, while Parthenope rebelled and became close, instead, to
Frances.
In September of 1837, William Edward to the Nightingale family on a tour in Europe. They went to Italy, France, and Switzerland meeting friends everywhere they went in their aristocratic circles and did not return until April of the next year. In Paris is where the family met the “extravagant” Mary “Clarkey” Clarke. She was a very important figure to Florence Nightingale because of her refusal to follow Victorian women norms. Clarkey surrounded herself with distinguished male intellectuals and generally rejected female company because she thought of them as inferior. Florence and her family became an exception, noticing Florence’s intellect and became great friends even though Clarkey was 27 years older.
Florence’s family returned to England in May 1839, where they were presented at the Queen’s drawing room. They had a huge get together celebrating the renovation of Embly Park during Christmas but it had seemed that December brought boredom to Florence and confided in her Aunt Mai, who shared some of her intellectual interests. She convinced Frances to let Florence visit Combe Hurst with her and they studied mathematics but her parent disagreed her on pursuing a mathematics master. When she returned home she continued to study mathematics and added Geek and philosophy. Florence felt confined and that she could be suited for much more than was available to her. It wouldn’t be until another 12 years that she would feel free and pursue her intellect .
After trying to pursue her “God’s calling” 1837 and being met with her parent clear disapproval, Florence became ill. By September 1847, Florence collapsed from losing so much weight and sleep deprivation. The Bracebridges persuaded Florence’s parents to let her join them on a trip to Rome for the winter. There she met Elizabeth and Sydney Herbert, who were on their honey moon. Sydney was a political who had been Secretary of War from 1845-1846. They became lifelong friends, with Florence advising him in his political career and him helping her with her future reform.