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Despite being the most famous Black celebrity of her generation, there is much that has remained unknown about Mary Seacole’s life and ancestry.
Mary Seacole is best known for her self-funded work as a nurse in the 1850s during the Crimean War. Her popularity with the soldiers led to her becoming a celebrity in London where she regularly mixed with illustrious royal and military patrons. After her death in 1881, she was largely forgotten.
In 2003, Helen Rappaport discovered the 1869 portrait of Mary Seacole that now hangs in the National Portrait Gallery, sparking a long investigation into her life and career.
Now, Helen will shed new light on the truth behind Seacole’s personal life, her ‘rivalry’ with Florence Nightingale and much more.
Helen Rappaport studied Russian at Leeds University, before working as a translator and copy editor. She has been a full-time writer for more than 23 years.
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