Early years
Florence Nightingale was born in Florence, Italy on 12th May 1820. She was born into a wealthy family and her parents, William Edward and Frances Nightingale toured Europe for two years on their honeymoon. During their travels their first daughter was born in Naples and was named Parthenope, which is the Greek name for the city. One year later Florence was born and was also named after the city of her birth. On returning to England the Nightingales divided their time between two homes, Lea Hurst in Derbyshire and Embley in Hampshire.
Florence was a serious child and would prefer to spend her time alone. She began collecting things from her travels and would meticulously catalogue her collections and transcribe her favourite poems. Collections of shells, coins and souvenirs have survived. During her travels she would also note the laws and social conditions of the places she visited.
Florence and Parthenope were taught at home by their Cambridge University educated father. Florence enjoyed learning and flourished on her academic education. She became particularly interested in the mathematics, a subject that at the time was considered very un-lady like. From an early age, Florence describes herself as having a sense of a ‘calling’ she felt she was destined to do something great with her life, but she did not yet know what this should be. | 
