Mary Seacole, who was of Jamaican descent, was rejected as one of Florence Nightingale’s nurses in the Crimea. She spent her own money to go there anyway and did important work in very dangerous circumstances. Her knowledge of herbal remedies was very useful to her work.

Betsi Cadwaladr worked alongside Florence Nightingale in the Crimea. Nightingale considered Betsi too rough and the two nurses often disagreed. Betsi eventually moved closer to the front line of the fighting to do her work and Nightingale finally acknowledged that Betsi had made an important contribution.

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson (9 June 1836 – 17 December 1917) was the first English woman to qualify as a physician and surgeon.