William Nightingale

William Edward Nightingale (1794–1874) was a noted English Unitarian and the father of Florence Nightingale.

Biography

William Nightingale (known also as W.E.N.) was born William Edward Shore in 1794. His mother was Mary née Evans (d.1853, Tapton House, Sheffield). She was the niece of one Peter Nightingale, a lead mining entrepreneur, under the terms of whose will William Shore inherited his estate Lea Hurst in Derbyshire, but also assumed the name and arms of Nightingale in 1815. He was appointed Sheriff of Hampshire in 1828.^[1] His father was William Shore. He had two sisters, Anne and Mary.

By his early twenties, William Nightingale had an income of £8,000, and as a result, he was very wealthy and liked to indulge in activities such as hunting and shooting. As well as Lea Hurst, he also owned Embley Park, an estate in Hampshire.

In 1817, when he was 23 and she 29, he married Frances "Fanny" Smith (1789–1880), from Parndon in Essex, daughter of the abolitionist, Whig member of Parliament, William Smith. They had two daughters. The elder, Parthenope Nightingale, was born in Naples and named after the city's Greek title. The other daughter was Florence Nightingale, known as "the lady with the lamp".

Interest in politics

William Nightingale had a keen interest in politics, and in 1829, he was appointed as the High Sheriff of Hampshire. In the summer months of 1834, he stood for parliament as a Whig candidate for Andover, Hampshire. He supported the Reform Bill, and opposed any form of bribery for the encouragement of the electors. His views cost him the election, which left him shocked. As a result, he resolved never to be persuaded into political life again. ^[2]

In 1838 he took his family on tour in Europe. He was introduced to Mary Elizabeth Mohl who particularly enjoyed the company of Florence. Mohl who was known as "Clarkey" generally rejected female company and spent her time with male intellectuals. However Clarkey made an exception in the case of the Nightingale family and Florence in particular. She and Florence were to remain close friends for 40 years despite their 27 year age difference.^[3]

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