Mary’s benevolence resonated with those who met her as she was naturally kind and generous. She was born on the 23rd November 1805; her patrilineage was Jamaican and her matrilineage was Scottish, and she was equally proud of both. She refuted stereotypes regarding the differences in her kinship, or her skin tone even though this was admired, and her strong character meant she accepted differences in others. When she faced narrow-mindedness she rose above it and did not let it hold her back.
Mary was born in Jamaica and her family had a guesthouse sited on a British Army Camp where her Father worked. Her route into nursing was inspired by her mother, herself a ‘healer’, who as well as sharing her knowledge, guided her natural ability. In today’s world, support for the natural caring abilities of contemporary nurses often starts in Care Assistant roles, before progressing to theoretical training in university and clinical nursing skill tests with real patients, prior to the final exam. The professional standards of nurses are reviewed by revalidation, and that bar is continually raised. These stringent measures weren’t imposed on Mary but she was known for her conscientious reputation. Mary nursed on the battlefield, with a notable kindness and her skills were admired for the way she treated the soldier’s injuries. They named her Mother Seacole to show appreciation for her empathy towards them.
There were many chapters in Mary’s working life – she was a multi-skilled Doctress (this non-gender-neutral term is no longer used; it describes a combined role of Nurse, Doctor, Midwife and Masseuse) as well as a business woman. But she was principally known as a pioneering well-travelled Nurse. Mary navigated her nursing career and grasped all potential chances to work in new areas. Mary’s enthusiasm resonates with today’s nurses who can seize opportunities availed to them in their training and in the roles they are drawn to and love to work in, as they advance in their own careers.
Mary started developing her nursing skills from the age of 12 helping her mother run their hotel where many of the guests were sick or injured soldiers. In her biography (The Wonderful Adventures of Mrs Seacole in Many Lands – published by Penguin Classics) she describes how she practiced on her dolls, and then pets, before developing her core skills on people. Mary’s love of travelling began in her teens and she started to develop her business acumen by travelling to England, the Bahamas and Cuba and bought goods to sell in Jamaica. In 1826, she arrived back home and opened a store selling food and goods, whilst continuing her nursing work at the same time.
In 1936 Mary married Edwin Seacole, whose parentage has been intriguingly deliberated. Edwin’s health was poor and he had been adopted by the surgeon and male midwife Thomas Seacole who said he was his Godson. But allegedly, Edwin’s real parents were Horatio Nelson and his mistress Emma Hamilton. The parish register at Southend is said to attest to this fact. Edwin worked as a Merchant and the couple started running a food store together but it wasn’t the success they’d hoped for. In the early 1840’s Mary had a difficult time when both her husband and her mother died. Mary grieved for a short while but her fortitude protected her and with an admirable strength of character she took over the running of her mother’s hotel, nursing patients with cholera at the same time.
By 1851, her brother Edward, had set up his own hotel in Jamaica. Mary joined him but still treated patients during the ongoing cholera epidemic; she was appreciated for her beneficence as she charged her rich customers, but not the poor. Although she had not had formal British nursing training, Mary was still recognised for the healing and nursing she had undertaken. She also used herbal treatments (with success) and wanted to gain an insight into containing the epidemic. However, she eventually caught cholera herself and had to spend some time recovering.
With her herbal remedies, Mary’s work principles were based on patient support and choices. Herbalists rely on the phyto-chemicals (phyto = plants) in herbs as these biologically active chemicals give protection from bacteria, viruses and fungi. They can be administered in a number of ways to be effective and the phyto-nutrients within them have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. The bioethical provenance of herbal therapies has had a lasting impact and Mary found their utility was well received at her home in Jamaica. But this was not always the case on her travels, and she learnt to be resilient to cope with those rejections. Present-day nurses rely on their resilience to sustain them while safely nursing patients with infections, particularly with the current risks posed by Coronavirus. It is that resilience which mirrors Mary’s nursing legacy.