Florence Nightingale

Begun in the reign of George IV and ended in that of Edward VII, her life more than spanned the whole Victorian era. "Do you think you are improving?" had asked the Aga Khan. She would not have hesitated for an instant in her reply. Life for the majority had improved, was improving and would continue to improve. Grieved greatly by his imperfections, she still believed in the ultimate perfectibility of man. Few of the great Victorians brought about by their personal efforts more of the material improvements of the era than Florence Nightingale. Probably in her own mind the betterment of the soldiers' lot, in sickness and in health, that she had helped to bring about would have rated highest. Next to that would have come her efforts to better the health of the peasants of India. Today she is remembered first and foremost as the founder of the nursing profession in its modern form. Her 38 ragtag-and-bobtail women, who coped with the shambles at Scutari, and the 15 young ladies introduced into St. Thomas' in 1860, were the start of one of the greatest of all services to mankind. This was her achievement, and almost hers alone. - p. 246.