Mary Jane Seacole was a British – Jamaican Nurse and businesswoman. She was known for setting up what was known as the “British Hotel” behind the lines of Crimean War. She provided for the wounded servicemen on the battlefield and nursed many of them back to health. Although she didn’t have any formal British nursing qualifications, she relied on her skills and experience as a doctor from her time in Jamaica. She showed an enormous amount of courage, compassion, skill and bravery during the war, and was awarded the Jamaican Order of Merit in 1991 and then in 2004 was voted as the Greatest Black Briton.

After her death, she was sadly almost forgotten for almost a century, but was eventually recognised for her success as a British Black woman in business and her devotion to the Crimean War.

We could have chosen many well deserving and famous black figures, but we wanted to pay tribute and recognise someone who resonated with the caring nature of nurses, and the supportive and compassionate society we at SAV wish to see. #blackhistorymonth