 mickfinn says: Mary Jane Grant was born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1805. Her father was a Scottish soldier, and her mother a Jamaican. Mary learned her nursing skills from her mother, who kept a boarding house for invalid soldiers. Although technically 'free', being of mixed race, Mary and her family had few civil rights - they could not vote, hold public office or enter the professions. In 1836, Mary married Edwin Seacole but the marriage was short-lived as he died in 1844. Seacole was an inveterate traveller, and before her marriage visited other parts of the Caribbean, including Cuba, Haiti and the Bahamas, as well as Central America and Britain. On these trips she complemented her knowledge of traditional medicine with European medical ideas. In 1854 Seacole travelled to England again, and approached the War Office, asking to be sent as an army nurse to the Crimea where there was known to be poor medical facilities for wounded soldiers. She was refused. Undaunted Seacole funded her own trip to the Crimea where she established the British Hotel near Balaclava to provide 'a mess-table and comfortable quarters for sick and convalescent officers'. She also visit... I love women's studies like this Mick. Today she is noted not only for her bravery and medical skills but as "a woman who succeeded despite the racial prejudice of influential sections of Victorian society"Worth repeating. I'd never heard of her. Thanks for sharing this history with us mickfinn! Great clip.  There was an interesting documentary contrasting the more well known Florence NIghtengale and Mary Seacole. It outlined their roles in the war. It seems as though the more ecclectic Seacole was a bit more skilled and dedicated than Florence NIghtengale, yet Nightengale is the heroine that we hear about most. I can't remember if it was a BBC documentary or not, I do remember being blown away by what history is, and what history really was. Superb clip. Mary Jane Seacole deserves a statue to be erected in her memory. If I were a soldier in them days I would of preferred to of been taken care of by Mary Jane Seacole than Florence Nightingale. Great clip. Educational and inspiring. @NSQ: I watched it as well and I agree with your comments; Florence N came across as not particularly nice, but I suppose she was only reflecting the views of the day, and she was part of the landed gentry, living for some time with her sister, Lady Verney, at Claydon House in north Buckinghamshire. Wonderful clip, thank you. Great clip mickfinn She'd made an enormous contribution to the troops in a dangerous region. That required so much moral and emotional stamina! I had never heard of her before. Too bad she hasn't received the recognition she deserves |
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