Mary Seacole Facts & Worksheets

Mary Seacole achieved enduring renown for her contributions during the Crimean War and is regarded as one of British history’s most prominent black figures. However, during her lifetime, her recognition was even more substantial. Despite encountering racial and societal obstacles, Mary Seacole emerged as a successful entrepreneur who attained significant renown during her lifetime. Today, she is revered as a trailblazer of the Victorian era.

See the fact file below for more information about Mary Seacole, or you can download our 24-page Mary Seacole worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

EARLY LIFE

• Mary Jane Seacole, born Mary Jane Grant on November 23, 1805, in Kingston, Jamaica, was a member of the free black community in the Colony of Jamaica. She was the offspring of James Grant, a Scottish Lieutenant in the British Army. 
• Her mother served as a nurse and practitioner of traditional medicine in the town, utilizing botanical resources and herbal treatments to alleviate people’s illnesses. Additionally, she managed a boarding house/hotel known as Blundell Hall.
• Mary was one of three offspring, and while it is uncertain whether she had formal education, she derived pleasure from engaging in the nurse role with her dolls and pets.
• Seacole developed her nursing abilities at Blundell Hall, where she learned about hygiene, ventilation, warmth, hydration, rest, empathy, proper nourishment, and caring for the dying. Blundell Hall also functioned as a convalescent facility for military and naval personnel recovering from cholera and yellow fever.
• As she grew older, Seacole resided in the home of an elderly woman, whom she referred to as her ‘kind patroness.’ Regarded as a family member, it seems that she received additional education within the household before going back to her mother.
• Seacole traveled to London to visit her relatives and stayed there for a year. In 1825, she returned to London and cared for her patroness during her illness. After the patroness died, Seacole returned to live with her mother at Blundell Hall. 
• She was occasionally summoned to assist at the nearby British war hospital during this time.

MARRIAGE

• In 1836, at the age of 31, Seacole married Edwin Horatio Hamilton Seacole, who was a trader in the capital city of Kingston. 
• A significant portion of Blundell Hall was destroyed by a fire in 1843 and was subsequently reconstructed. Adding to her difficulties, Edwin and her mother passed away in 1844, leaving Mary to take over the management of the hotel. 
• Later, in 1851, she established the British Hotel, a restaurant on the Panama Canal.
• Mary’s encounters with cholera would be advantageous for her professional trajectory. Amid the cholera pandemic in 1850, Seacole, who was well regarded, provided medical care to patients, so saving lives among the 32,000 Jamaicans who fell victim to the disease.
• During this period, she obtained numerous indications on the treatment of cholera, which she later discovered to be beneficial.
• Seacole openly recognized her mistakes in treating patients and later said that certain therapies she employed filled her with regret when looking back.

TIME IN PANAMA

• In 1851, Seacole journeyed to Cruces, Cuba, to visit her brother. However, she resumed her medical duties when a widespread outbreak occurred in the area.
• The initial patient who sought her assistance successfully recovered, and she gained renown for her application of mustard rubs, utilization of cinnamon water for rehydration, and administration of laxatives to expel the infection from the body, as opposed to the conventional opium-based treatments.
• Seacole provided pro bono treatment to the impoverished while accepting remuneration from the town’s affluent residents, thereby financing others’ healthcare.
• While she was here, Mary also endured a bout of cholera during an epidemic but managed to recover. The outbreak resulted in a significant loss of life, leading to the cessation of work on the Panama railroad.
• After departing from her restaurant located on the Panama Canal in 1852, she encountered racial discrimination. 

SEACOLE DURING THE CRIMEAN WAR

• Mary Seacole gained recognition and established her reputation among the British during the Crimean War.
• From 1853 to 1856, the conflict involved a coalition of the United Kingdom, France, the Ottoman Empire, and Sardinia, who joined forces against Russia.
• The war was first justified on the grounds of protecting the rights of Christian minorities in the Holy Land, but it eventually devolved into a conflict driven by personal ambitions. 
• However, from a practical standpoint, the control of the Crimean Peninsula held significant strategic importance as it determined control over the approaches to India.
• Upon learning of the war outbreak, Seacole decided to fly to the United Kingdom to offer her services as a nurse.
• She expressed her desire to witness the grandeur and ceremonial aspects of the battle.
• She applied to the War Office in England to join the second group of nurses sent to Crimea to assist Florence Nightingale, a trainer of nurses during the Crimean War who later came to prominence.
• Seacole ultimately had to finance her journey to the conflict zone in early 1855. There, she established the British Hotel at Balaclava in collaboration with Thomas Day, a relative of her deceased spouse.
• The structure was assembled using available resources such as iron sheets, driftwood, and salvaged windows and doors. The hotel was intended to offer a dining facility for cops and medical assistance.
• While traveling to Crimea, the nurse saw a doctor who had recently departed from Scutari, a location in the warzone. The doctor provided her with a letter of introduction to Nightingale, suggesting that they collaborate in providing medical care for the soldiers.
• Seacole visited Florence Nightingale at the Barrack Hospital in Scutari, Turkey. During her stay, Seacole requested and was granted a bed for the night before continuing her journey to the fighting zone. 
• Although Mary alludes to encountering the ‘Lady with the Lamp’ in several subsequent instances, the two never crossed paths again.
• Due to her proximity to the battlefield, Mary frequently visited troops on the front line, providing them with necessary supplies and offering medical assistance for war injuries. As a result, she earned the nickname ‘Mother Seacole’ from the soldiers.
• Mary dedicated more than a year in Crimea, providing medical care and managing her hotel, until a resolution for peace was reached in early 1856. 
• Due to unsold provisions and outstanding invoices, the nurse found herself in a financial predicament. She made every effort to maximize sales before the soldiers departed, resorting to auctions where she sold valuable items at a price lower than their actual value to the Russians returning home.

BACK IN ENGLAND

• Seacole returned to London in August 1856 after taking a circuitous way back to the United Kingdom, most likely because she did not have enough money. She attended a festive supper held at Royal Surrey Gardens, which 2,000 soldiers attended.
• The dinner was organized in honor of Nightingale, the guest of honor. Despite her financial condition being unchanged, Mary was compelled to relocate before becoming declared bankrupt in November 1856. Upon the press discovering her adversity, they promptly reported on it and established a fund to assist as a token of gratitude for her service to the British soldiers.
• On January 30, 1857, Seacole was released from bankruptcy; however, she continued being impoverished and forced to relocate again. Later this year, Mary released her 200-page autobiographical account, making it the first autobiography written by a Black woman in Britain.
• After converting to Catholicism, Seacole returned to her birthplace of Jamaica in 1860, with her reputation before her. Despite her continued financial struggles in 1867, Seacole’s fund was revived in London, with new benefactors such as the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Duke of Cambridge, and other high-ranking military commanders.
• In 1870, she returned to London to provide her aid during the Franco-Prussian War. She was appointed as the personal masseur to the Princess of Wales, who experienced symptoms of leukoderma and rheumatism. In 1871, Prince Victor of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, who was Queen Victoria’s nephew, created a marble sculpture of Seacole in the form of a bust.
• Seacole passed away in 1881 at her residence in Paddington due to a stroke; she was 76 years old. Mary Seacole received the Jamaican Order of Merit in 1991 to recognize her nursing contributions. Additionally, she was honored as the greatest Black Briton in 2004. 

Mary Seacole Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Mary Seacole across 24 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Mary Seacole. Mary Seacole emerged as a successful entrepreneur who attained significant renown during her lifetime. Today, she is revered as a trailblazer of the Victorian era.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Mary Seacole Facts
2. Mary Seacole
3. Seacole’s Journey
4. She
5. Women during War
6. Relevance
7. A Leader
8. Healing Culture
9. Award
10. An Experience
11. Thank You

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Mary Seacole?

Mary Seacole was a Jamaican-British nurse who gained prominence during the 19th century. She was known for her efforts in providing medical care to wounded soldiers during the Crimean War, despite facing racial prejudice.

What were Mary Seacole’s contributions during the Crimean War?

Mary Seacole set up the “British Hotel” near the frontline of the war. There, she provided medical care, food, and supplies to wounded soldiers from various nationalities. Her knowledge of traditional Caribbean and African herbal remedies was highly valued, and she often treated soldiers with these methods.

How did Mary Seacole overcome obstacles to provide care during the Crimean War?

Despite facing racial discrimination and bureaucratic obstacles, Mary Seacole was determined to offer her services. She funded her trip to the Crimea at her own expense and navigated through red tape to establish her medical facility. Her resilience and determination enabled her to overcome these challenges.

What was Mary Seacole’s legacy?

Mary Seacole’s legacy lies in her pioneering role as a nurse and her contributions to healthcare during the Crimean War. Despite not receiving recognition during her lifetime comparable to Florence Nightingale, her story has gained prominence in recent years, highlighting the contributions of black and minority ethnic individuals to history.

How is Mary Seacole remembered today?

Mary Seacole is remembered as a symbol of diversity and inclusion in healthcare. Her legacy is celebrated through various means, including statues, memorials, and educational initiatives. She continues to inspire people, especially those from minority backgrounds, to pursue careers in nursing and to overcome obstacles in the pursuit of their goals.

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