Emma Maria Pearson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Emma Maria Pearson
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Emma Maria Pearson photographed in Rome after serving as a battle-front nurse during the Serbo-Turkish War of 1876
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| Born | 1828 |
| Died | 1893 |
Emma Maria Pearson (1828–1893) was a brave British woman who helped people during wars. She was born in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. Emma was one of the first women from Britain to work as a nurse for the Red Cross. She was also a talented writer.
Emma received special medals for her work. The French and Germans gave her awards for setting up "ambulances" during the Franco-Prussian War in 1870. Back then, "ambulances" were like small hospitals close to the fighting. She also earned the Gold Cross of the Order of the Takova for her help in the Serbo-Turkish War. This war happened just before the Russo-Turkish War (1877–78).
Contents
Emma's Life and Nursing Career
Emma Pearson had an exciting life helping others. She often worked with her close friend, Louisa McLaughlin (1836–1921). They shared many adventures while nursing during wartime.
After the wars, Emma and Louisa opened one of London's only private nursing homes. Here, they helped a famous doctor named Joseph Lister. He was known for starting "antiseptic surgery." This meant using clean methods to stop infections during operations. Emma and Louisa assisted him in many important surgeries.
Emma's Books and Writings
Emma Pearson was a busy writer. She wrote several books about her experiences and other topics.
Sharing War Stories
Emma and Louisa wrote two books together about their time helping soldiers. These books were called Our Adventures During the War of 1870 and Service in Servia Under the Red Cross. They told stories about what it was like to be a nurse on the battlefield.
They also wrote a short history of wartime nursing. This was first published as articles in a magazine called St. James's Magazine. Later, these articles were put together into a book called Under the Red Cross in 1872. This book even talked about some problems with how the Red Cross was managed at the time. You can still find digital copies of these books today.
Other Novels and Travel Books
Besides her war stories, Emma wrote other kinds of books. She wrote two novels: His Little Cousin: A Tale (published in 1875) and One Love in a Life (published in 1874). One Love in a Life was dedicated to her dear friend, Louisa McLaughlin. This story showed how strong women could overcome challenges. A newspaper called The Daily Telegraph said the book had an "elevating" tone and great descriptions.
Emma also wrote a travel book called From Rome to Mentana in 1868. It described her journeys. This book was praised by a reviewer in Gentleman's Magazine. The editor of that magazine, Edward Walford, also helped Emma with her book. He was related to Emma's family.
Emma's writings often appeared in popular magazines like St James's Magazine and Temple Bar. These magazines featured famous writers like Anthony Trollope. Emma even wrote to the Journal of the Society for Psychical Research twice about seeing ghosts!
