Florence Nightingale was from a noble family.

Florence Nightingale was born in 1820 while her parents were on a visit to Italy. Her parents were rich, and when she was young, Florence was much admired in London society for her beauty and her wit. Even so, from the time when she was 17, she was determined that her life would be devoted to the care for the sick.
    Her parents were shocked when she asked for permission to enter a hospital for training, because the hospitals at that time were unhealthful places and most of the nurses were ignorant and drunken. It was something unheard of for an educated young woman to wish to be a nurse. Florence had to give up her wish to train. But she did whatever nursing she could in the villages near her home, and studied hospital reports when she could get them. She travelled abroad with friends, visiting hospitals in many places, and in 1851 she managed to train for 3 months in a hospital.
    When Florence had refused a most suitable proposed marriage simply because she wanted to be a nurse, her parents learnt that nothing could keep her from her career and they unwillingly accepted the fact. Her formal career thus began. That was in 1853. In 1854, when Britain was having a war with Russia, Florence got a letter from the Secretary of State for War, an old friend of hers. He asked if she would take a party of nurses to the front in Turkey. This letter actually crossed with one from her offering to go.
    When Florence arrived at the hospital in the front with about 30 nurses in November, 1854, she was shocked by the terrible conditions there: There was almost no supply of medical equipment and basic facility, the environment was frightful, and, worst of all, the doctors had no authority to make the government departments provide what they needed.
    With the supplies and fund she brought with her, and, especially, with the confidence in herself and her career, Florence started to work. The environment and facilities were greatly improved with her management. She worked day and night, nursing the worst cases herself. Soon she won the respect, love and worship of her patients: They called her "The Lady with the Lamp", as she made her night rounds with a lamp.
    Later, Florence travelled through that area organizing hospitals, though too much physical strain and too much work made her desperately ill and her friends urged her to go home. She extended her activities by providing recreation rooms, books, and lectures for the patients, and in time for soldiers who were not ill. Though with great obstacles at the beginning, the general situation became greatly improved.
    By the time the war finished, she became widely admired. Yet she allowed no honour. She set out for a new target—the improvement of conditions in the army. For that purpose, she again worked day and night. In 1857, her health became so poor, but after a short rest she was back at work again. In about 4 years, most of her new targets was achieved.
    During the second half of her life Florence Nightingale was always in poor health, often staying in bed for months at a time. She continued to work for many years, nevertheless, until first her eyesight faded, and then her memory. In 1910, she passed away, leaving nursing almost what it is today.