Agnes Jones facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Agnes Elizabeth Jones
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| Born | 1832 |
| Died | 1868 |
| Nationality | English |
Agnes Elizabeth Jones (born 1832, died 1868) was a very important nurse from Fahan, County Donegal, Ireland. She became the first trained leader of nurses at the Liverpool Workhouse Infirmary. This was a big hospital for people who were poor. Agnes worked incredibly hard for her patients. Sadly, she died at just 35 years old from typhus fever. Florence Nightingale, a famous nurse, said Agnes had "one of the most valuable lives in England." This shows how much Florence Nightingale respected her.
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Agnes Jones's Early Life
Agnes Jones was born on November 10, 1832, in Cambridge. She came from a rich family. Her family had connections to the military and strong religious beliefs. Her uncle was Sir John Lawrence. He later became Lord Lawrence and was a very important leader in India.
Moving to Ireland and Education
When Agnes was young, her family moved to Fahan in County Donegal, Ireland. Her father was in the army, so they also lived in other places, like Mauritius. Agnes was taught at home. She also went to Miss Ainsworth's school near Stratford-upon-Avon until 1850.
Meeting Deaconesses in Europe
During a family holiday in Europe, Agnes met some special women. They were called deaconesses from the Institution of Kaiserwerth. These women had also helped Florence Nightingale with her early nursing experiences. Agnes visited their institution in Bonn. She saw the hospital, an orphanage, and schools run by the deaconesses. Agnes returned home to Ireland and used what she had learned.
Training with Florence Nightingale
In 1859, Agnes went to London. There, she met Florence Nightingale and Sarah E. Wardroper. Sarah was a senior nurse at St Thomas Hospital. Florence Nightingale described Agnes as "attractive and rich and young and witty." She also said Agnes was "distinguished by no other genius than the divine genius."
In 1862, Agnes Jones started her nurse training. She trained at the Nightingale School at St Thomas Hospital in London. After her year of training, Florence Nightingale called her "our best and dearest pupil." But Agnes's most important work was still to come in Liverpool.
Leading Nurses in Liverpool
Liverpool Workhouse Infirmary was a very large hospital. It was located at Brownlow Hill. This hospital cared for 1,200 sick people who were poor. A kind person named William Rathbone lived in Liverpool. He got permission to bring trained nurses to the hospital. He paid for them himself for three years.
In 1865, William Rathbone asked Agnes Jones to come to Liverpool. She moved from the London Great Northern Hospital. She became the first trained Nursing Superintendent there.
Improving Hospital Conditions
When Agnes arrived, the hospital was very messy and wasteful. People described it as having "disorder, extravagance of every description." Soon after she started, Agnes brought 12 trained nurses with her. She also brought seven student nurses. All of them had trained at the Nightingale School of Nursing in London.
More student nurses joined them later. Also, 54 female patients who were able to work helped out. They were paid a small amount. This was the first time nurses were trained in a workhouse hospital. It helped other workhouses across the UK start their own nurse training. A social reformer named Eva McLaren was one of the people who trained there.
Agnes Jones's Legacy
Agnes Jones helped the sick poor people a lot. She worked very hard to make the hospital better. But all this hard work made her very tired. She died at only 35 years old from typhus fever. This illness was common among poor people in Liverpool back then.
Agnes Jones wrote only one book. It was a Bible study called "The Gospel Promises shown in Isaiah I to VI." Her sister published a book about Agnes in 1871. It was called "Memorials of Agnes Elizabeth Jones." Florence Nightingale wrote the introduction to this book. A newspaper review said it should inspire anyone who felt they had a similar calling.
Remembering Agnes Jones
People in Liverpool still remember Agnes Jones's important work. A window in the Anglican Cathedral is dedicated to her. There is also a statue of her in the Cathedral Oratory. A building for students is named Agnes Jones House.
Agnes Jones is buried in her home country of Ireland. Her grave has been fixed up recently. You can find it in the quiet graveyard of Fahan. This is about 4 miles south of Buncrana in County Donegal. This graveyard also has one of the oldest Celtic stones in Ireland. It dates back to the time of St. Columba.
