Florence the Woman
William Nightingale, 1794-1874
Display No. 173
Nightingale’s father was born William Shore but, upon inheriting property from his wife’s uncle, Peter Nightingale, he assumed the right to the family arms and the Nightingale name.
William played an important role in the lives of his daughters Florence and Parthenope by providing them with an unusually wide-ranging education. Whilst he didn’t initially support Florence’s desire to become a nurse, he relented and provided her with financial support. This photograph from the 1870s shows William Nightingale standing next to Parthenope at Embley Park.
Exhibits from ‘Florence the Woman’
Discover the 200 Exhibits
Nightingale is respected worldwide for her pioneering role in developing the nursing profession, her statistical work, and her evidence-based approach to healthcare. In honour of her bicentenary the World Health Organisation have named 2020 the Year of the Nurse and Midwife.
In our special exhibition, you will find out about objects, people and places which tell interesting stories about Florence’s life and legacy. You’ll discover artefacts from her life, people she both inspired and challenged, and places she helped to shape. There’s many more insights too!
Please click on the different sections of her famous coxcomb diagram to explore various aspects of her life and legacy. We hope you enjoy exploring!