title: Nightingale, Florence
abstract: Born on May 12, 1820, in Florence, Italy, to a wealthy British family, Nightingale received an advanced and classical education and was expected to use that education as a way to attract a suitable husband. In 1837, however, she claimed that God had spoken her saying that she had a mission; thinking this mission was related to health, Nightingale dedicated herself to learning how to care for the sick. Returning to Britain from Kaiserswerth in 1853, Nightingale took a position at London's Harley 