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Biography
Florence Sarah Lees (31 March 1840 – 19 October 1922) was one of the English pioneers of district nursing.
Florence Lees was born on 31 March 1840 in Blandford, Dorset. She used to visit the sick with her mother and in 1866 she became an observer in Florence Nightingale's school at St Thomas' Hospital (now part of King's College London) in London.
When the Franco-Prussian War broke out in 1870 she volunteered for military nursing. She was put in charge of the hospital at Marange and then Homburg by the Crown Princess of Prussia, Queen Victoria's eldest daughter. For her service during the war she was awarded the cross of the German order of merit.
In 1874, after her return to England, she conducted a survey of hospitals and nursing practices in London. This led to the formation of the Metropolitan and National Nursing Association to provide training in London. Florence Lees was appointed as its first superintendent.
On 16 September 1879, she married the Reverend Dacre Henry Craven.
In 1889, her book, A Guide to District Nurses, was published.
She died on 19 October 1922 and was buried in Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex.