Introduction
Mary Seacole was born in Kingston, Jamaica. There is no definite date of her birth recorded, but she was most likely to have been born in circa 1805. Her mother was of African heritage and her father was a Scottish army officer. Mary Seacole was a ‘doctress’ who practised Creole or Afro-Caribbean medicine. Mary learnt nursing and herbalism from her mother. In September 1854, Mary heard about the Crimean campaign and she was struck with the thought of looking after the troops she had known in Jamaica.
She travelled to the Crimea and set up her own business, the British Hotel, which was a general store and place where Mary helped soldiers who came seeking treatment. She was affectionately known by the troops as Mother Seacole, because of the care she gave them.
After the war Mary returned to London and wrote her autobiography Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands, which was published in 1857 and which is in print today. She died in 1881 and was buried in the Catholic Cemetery at Kensal Green.
You can buy Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in the Museum shop.
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To find out more about Mary Seacole click here
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