Betsi Cadwaladr facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Betsi Cadwaladr
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Betsi Cadwaladr
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Elizabeth 'Betsi' Cadwaladr
24 May 1789 Llanycil, near Bala, Wales
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| Died | 17 July 1860 (aged 71) London
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| Nationality | Welsh |
| Citizenship | British |
| Occupation | Nurse |
| Years active | 1855 |
| Relatives | Dafydd Cadwaladr |
Betsi Cadwaladr (born May 24, 1789 – died July 17, 1860) was a brave Welsh nurse. She is famous for her work during the Crimean War. She worked alongside Florence Nightingale, another well-known nurse.
Betsi and Florence often disagreed because they came from very different backgrounds. Today, Betsi's name is used for the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. This is the biggest health organization in Wales. In 2016, she was named one of the "50 greatest Welsh men and women of all time." She was even ranked higher than famous people like singer Tom Jones and actor Anthony Hopkins.
Contents
Betsi's Early Life
Elizabeth 'Betsi' Cadwaladr was born in 1789. Her birthplace was Llanycil, near Bala, in Wales. She was one of 16 children. Her father, Dafydd Cadwaladr, was a Methodist preacher.
Betsi grew up on Pen Rhiw Farm. Her mother died when Betsi was only five years old. Soon after, she received a Bible as a gift. It was from Thomas Charles, a Welsh clergyman. This gift was very special to Betsi. She felt it gave her life a new purpose.
Her First Jobs and Travels
Betsi first worked as a maid at Plas yn Dre. There, she learned housework and how to speak English. She also learned to play the triple harp. But she wasn't happy there. At 14, she escaped through a window using tied sheets. She left Bala and found work as a domestic servant in Liverpool.
At some point, she changed her last name to Davis. This was because it was easier for people to say. She later went back to Wales. But she soon moved to London to avoid getting married. She lived with her sister there. In London, she discovered the theatre, which she loved.
Betsi worked as a maid and assistant. This job let her travel all over the world. She loved seeing new places. She was in France during the Battle of Waterloo. She visited the battlefield and felt sad for the injured soldiers.
In 1820, when she was 31, she returned to Bala. She found it "dull" after her travels. So, she became a maid for a ship's captain. She traveled for many years. She visited places like South America, Africa, and Australia. Sometimes, she even performed Shakespeare plays on the ship. She met interesting people, like the missionary William Carey.
Betsi was not trained as a nurse then. But she often helped care for sick people on the ship. She even helped deliver babies. She was very stubborn and independent. Betsi herself said that over 20 men proposed to her during her travels!
Becoming a Nurse
When Betsi returned to Britain, she decided to train as a nurse. She went to Guy's, a hospital in London. After her training, she was 65 years old. She joined the military nursing service. She wanted to work in the Crimea. Her sister Bridget tried to stop her, but Betsi was determined.
Florence Nightingale was also going to the Crimea. Florence came from a wealthy family. She didn't want Betsi, who was from a working-class background, to go. Florence said Betsi would have to be under another supervisor. Betsi famously replied, "Do you think I am a dog or an animal to make me over? I have a will of my own."
Betsi was sent to a hospital in Scutari, Turkey. Florence Nightingale was in charge there. Betsi worked there for several months. But she and Florence often argued. They had very different social backgrounds. Also, Florence was 31 years younger than Betsi.
Florence was very strict about rules and paperwork. Betsi, however, often ignored the rules. She wanted to help the injured soldiers right away. She focused on what they needed most. Florence later admitted that Betsi's work was important. She saw the improvements Betsi made to the unhealthy conditions.
But their disagreements were too much. Betsi, who was over 65, chose to move. She went to a hospital closer to the fighting, at Balaclava. There, she continued her nursing work. She also managed the camp kitchens. She became known for fighting bureaucracy. She made sure that important supplies reached the soldiers. Florence Nightingale visited Balaclava twice. She saw the positive changes Betsi had made. Florence then gave Betsi the credit she deserved.
Later Life and Death
The harsh conditions in the Crimea affected Betsi's health. She became sick with cholera and dysentery. She returned to Britain in 1855. This was a year before the war ended.
She lived in London, staying at her sister's house. During this time, she wrote her autobiography. Betsi died in 1860, five years after returning home. She was buried in a simple grave at Abney Park Cemetery in north London. A new memorial stone was placed on her grave in August 2012.
Remembering Betsi Cadwaladr
Betsi Cadwaladr is celebrated as a nursing hero in Wales. On Nurses' Day in 2005, Donna M Mead gave a speech. She said it was time for Wales to recognize its own nursing heroine. Professor Mead, with support from the Royal College of Nursing in Wales, became a strong supporter of Betsi.
Since 2005, many things have happened to honor Betsi. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Wales holds a special lecture every two years. It is called the Betsi Cadwaladr Lecture. Many important people have given these lectures, including:
- 2006: Sue Essex, a Welsh politician.
- 2008: Julian Tudor Hart, a doctor known for his "inverse care law."
- 2010: Julie Morgan, a politician.
- 2012: Christine Mary Evans, a retired doctor.
- 2014: Roy Lilley, a writer and speaker about the NHS.
- 2017: Dame Rosemary Butler, a former Welsh Assembly leader.
In 2014, a Western Mail survey ranked the 50 greatest Welsh people. Betsi Cadwaladr was ranked 38th. This was higher than many other famous Welsh people. These included singer Tom Jones (39th) and actor Anthony Hopkins (46th).
In 2011, the National Federation of Women's Institutes - Wales celebrated International Women's Day. They held three events. Speakers were asked to choose an inspirational woman to talk about. Professor Donna Mead chose Betsi Cadwaladr. Another speaker, Gretta Cartwright, also chose Betsi. So, Betsi was featured twice in the booklet created from these talks.
Works
- Autobiography of Elizabeth Davis, 1857. This book was republished as Betsy Cadwaladyr: A Balaclava Nurse by Honno in 2015. ISBN: 9781909983274
See also
In Spanish: Betsi Cadwaladr para niños
