Florence Nightingale was born on May 12, 1820 in a wealthy British family. She was born in Italy in a city named Florence. She is named for the city in which she was born. Florence Nightingale was very good student and well educated in Literature, Music and Drawing. Her parents wanted her to get married and devote her life for family. But she was the lady of social standing and she desired to devote her life for humanity and refused to marry. She wished to serve as a nurse. She has to face horrible opposition from her family for this aim of hers. Her parents were not in favor of sending their daughter to hospitals as hospitals were dirty and dark and the nurses of that time were mostly untrained and drunken women. But this apposition did not affect her aim. And at last after a long struggle at the age of 33 she succeeded in getting some minimum training and began her carrier.

In 1854 when the poorly cared Crimean War wounded soldiers were reported by the British press at that time Florence Nightingale played a very important role. She together with a group of nurses went to Turkey to help the wounded soldiers. Although the arrival of the group of the nurses were not welcomed by the surgeons because they were offended by the interference of women and women were considered weak at that time. But these thoughts had nothing to do with Nightingale's mission and she kept on tirelessly working to improve the condition of the hospital. As a result of her efforts British military medical care totally got changed, standard for sanitation and nutrition increased dramatically. She forgot about herself and devoted her life for her mission as result she become ill while visiting the front lines and never recovered.

Beside the poor health condition she always had significant influence on standard of nursing and training. First visiting nurse association was established by her in 1860. Florence Nightingale also established a school that later became a model for modern nurses training. Nightingale was an expert of the scientific care. United States asked for her expert advice on caring for the wounded soldiers after civil war. Florence Nightingale was the first lady awarded with the British Order of Merit. She is also listed as the pioneer of the Red Cross Movement for her efforts and services.

She died in 1910. She lived a remarkable life. Nightingale is also given a name the Lady with the Lamp. She is given this title because of the late hour work that she did looking after the sick and wounded. She is remembered by the world as a symbol of selfless caring and tireless services.