Emma Maria Pearson
Encyclopedia
Emma Maria Pearson the daughter of Captain Charles Pearson, RN
, of Great Yarmouth
, Norfolk
, was a writer and one of the first British women to serve as a nurse for the Red Cross
.
Both the French and Germans awarded medals to her for running ambulances (as field hospitals
were then called) during the Franco-Prussian War
of 1870. She also gained the Gold Cross of the Order of the Takova for work in the Serbo-Turkish war, the prelude to the Russo-Turkish War (1877-78).
(1836-1921) who shared the same wartime adventures. Later they jointly set up one of London's only two private nursing homes where they assisted the originator of antiseptic surgery Joseph Lister
in many operations.
Between wars Emma wrote two three-decker novels
His Little Cousin: A Tale (London, 1875) and One Love in a Life (London: 1874). The latter, available as an eBook, is dedicated to “the dear friend, 'tender and true,' who shared hardship and danger by my side, Louisa E. McLaughlin, in loving remembrance of 1870.” The story demonstrates that women’s rights are not needed for good women to overcome their problems, while the rest cannot organize themselves owing to petty rivalries. The Daily Telegraph review said: “The tone is elevating, and the descriptions of scenery and society excellent.”
Emma was also the author of From Rome to Mentana. In 2002 a facsimile reprint of this 354-page travel book was published as an Elibron Classic by Adamant Media Corporation of London. When From Rome to Mentana
originally came out in 1868, it was praised by an anonymous reviewer in the Gentleman's Magazine, which at that time was edited by Edward Walford
, who also happened to have edited the book. Walford was an eminent writer of local histories, and the compiler of Walford's County Families
. He was the uncle of Emma's sister Harriet's husband, John Desborough Walford.
Emma's work often appeared in the St James's Magazine and in Temple Bar, both literary periodicals with eminent contributors such as Anthony Trollope
. She twice reported seeing ghosts to the Journal of the Society for Psychical Research
.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, of Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth, often known to locals as Yarmouth, is a coastal town in Norfolk, England. It is at the mouth of the River Yare, east of Norwich.It has been a seaside resort since 1760, and is the gateway from the Norfolk Broads to the sea...
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, was a writer and one of the first British women to serve as a nurse for the Red Cross
British Red Cross
The British Red Cross Society is the United Kingdom branch of the worldwide impartial humanitarian organisation the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The society was formed in 1870, and is a registered charity with over 31,000 volunteers and 2,600 staff. At the heart of their work...
.
Both the French and Germans awarded medals to her for running ambulances (as field hospitals
Field hospital
A field hospital is a large mobile medical unit that temporarily takes care of casualties on-site before they can be safely transported to more permanent hospital facilities...
were then called) during the Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
of 1870. She also gained the Gold Cross of the Order of the Takova for work in the Serbo-Turkish war, the prelude to the Russo-Turkish War (1877-78).
Life
An account of Emma’s nursing career is given in the article on her partner Louisa McLaughlinLouisa McLaughlin
Louisa Elisabeth McLaughlin was one of the first British women to serve as a nurse for the Red Cross. Louisa, who often spelled her name MacLaughlin and was familiarly called Louise, is pictured wearing medals awarded by both the French and Germans for running ambulances during the...
(1836-1921) who shared the same wartime adventures. Later they jointly set up one of London's only two private nursing homes where they assisted the originator of antiseptic surgery Joseph Lister
Joseph Lister, 1st Baron Lister
Joseph Lister, 1st Baron Lister OM, FRS, PC , known as Sir Joseph Lister, Bt., between 1883 and 1897, was a British surgeon and a pioneer of antiseptic surgery, who promoted the idea of sterile surgery while working at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary...
in many operations.
Works
Louisa co-authored with Emma two narratives of their battlefront experiences Our Adventures During the War of 1870, and Service in Servia Under the Red Cross. They also wrote a brief history of wartime nursing as a series of papers in the St. James’s Magazine, reprinted in book form in 1872 with the title Under the Red Cross. The last two chapters document a multitude of failings in Colonel Loyd-Lindsay's chairmanship of the National Society for Aid to the Sick and Wounded in War (precursor to the British Red Cross). Facsimiles of the original two volumes (364 & 418 pages) of Our Adventures are available as eBooks. There is also an eBook of Service in Servia.Between wars Emma wrote two three-decker novels
Three-volume novel
The three-volume novel was a standard form of publishing for British fiction during the nineteenth century. It was a significant stage in the development of the modern Western novel as a form of popular literature.The format does not correspond closely to what would now be considered a trilogy of...
His Little Cousin: A Tale (London, 1875) and One Love in a Life (London: 1874). The latter, available as an eBook, is dedicated to “the dear friend, 'tender and true,' who shared hardship and danger by my side, Louisa E. McLaughlin, in loving remembrance of 1870.” The story demonstrates that women’s rights are not needed for good women to overcome their problems, while the rest cannot organize themselves owing to petty rivalries. The Daily Telegraph review said: “The tone is elevating, and the descriptions of scenery and society excellent.”
Emma was also the author of From Rome to Mentana. In 2002 a facsimile reprint of this 354-page travel book was published as an Elibron Classic by Adamant Media Corporation of London. When From Rome to Mentana
originally came out in 1868, it was praised by an anonymous reviewer in the Gentleman's Magazine, which at that time was edited by Edward Walford
Edward Walford
Edward Walford was a British magazine editor and a compiler of educational, biographical, genealogical and touristic works, perhaps best known for his Old and New London 6 volumes , 1878....
, who also happened to have edited the book. Walford was an eminent writer of local histories, and the compiler of Walford's County Families
Walford's County Families
Walford's County Families is the short title of a work, partly social register, partly "Who's Who", which was produced in Britain in the 19th and 20th centuries, initially under the editorship of Edward Walford...
. He was the uncle of Emma's sister Harriet's husband, John Desborough Walford.
Emma's work often appeared in the St James's Magazine and in Temple Bar, both literary periodicals with eminent contributors such as Anthony Trollope
Anthony Trollope
Anthony Trollope was one of the most successful, prolific and respected English novelists of the Victorian era. Some of his best-loved works, collectively known as the Chronicles of Barsetshire, revolve around the imaginary county of Barsetshire...
. She twice reported seeing ghosts to the Journal of the Society for Psychical Research
Society for Psychical Research
The Society for Psychical Research is a non-profit organisation in the United Kingdom. Its stated purpose is to understand "events and abilities commonly described as psychic or paranormal by promoting and supporting important research in this area" and to "examine allegedly paranormal phenomena...
.