Frances Parthenope Verney (19 April 1819 – 12 May 1890)[1] was an English writer and journalist.
She was the daughter of William Edward Nightingale, and the elder sister of Florence Nightingale. She became the second wife of Harry Verney, 2nd Baronet (m. 1858), to whom she was introduced by her sister; Harry Verney had previously been wooing Florence.
Parthenope was an active supporter of her sister's work during the Crimean War. As Lady Verney, she was responsible for extensively remodelling Claydon House in Buckinghamshire.[2]
In later years, the two sisters lived near each other on South Street, London. Lady Verney wrote stories and articles for Fraser's Magazine, Cornhill Magazine, and Macmillan's Magazine. She published several novels and a two volume book, Peasant Properties and Other Selected Essays. After her death two collections of her works were published: Essays and Tales and The Grey Pool and Other Stories. Her work on the Verney family papers was completed and published by Margaret Verney as Memoirs of the Verney Family during the Seventeenth Century.But was against Florence's idea of nursing at first.[3]
She died in May 1890 aged 71 at Claydon House, the family seat.