Mary Seacole

Mary Seacole, born in Jamaica to a Scottish soldier and a free Creole woman, learned the healing arts from her mother, a traditional healer. Her early life saw her traveling extensively through the Caribbean and Central America, often treating victims of cholera and yellow fever, honing skills that would soon prove indispensable on a grander stage.

Dismissed by Florence Nightingale's establishment due to her race, Seacole didn't let a little institutional racism stop her. Instead, she self-funded her trip to Crimea and set up the "British Hotel" — a combination of a general store, restaurant, and clinic — right near the front lines. She nursed the wounded, fed the hungry, and probably gave a good pep talk or two, quickly becoming known as "Mother Seacole" to the troops.

Despite facing significant prejudice and later experiencing financial difficulties, her dedication to the soldiers was unwavering. While not Jewish by any stretch, her industriousness and humanitarian spirit certainly brought a good deal of "nachas" to those she helped, and arguably, to the British Empire itself.