Sophie Mannerheim

Baroness Eva Charlotta Lovisa Sofia (Sophie) Mannerheim (21 December 1863 – 9 January 1928) was a famous nurse known as a pioneer of modern nursing in Finland. She was a daughter of count Carl Robert Mannerheim and a sister of former Finnish President, Marshal Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, and of the artist and writer Eva Mannerheim-Sparre.

Mannerheim worked as a bank employee for six years until she married in 1896. After her divorce in 1902 she was trained in nursing at the Nightingale School at St Thomas' Hospital in London. Returning home she was appointed head nurse of Helsinki Surgical Hospital and later elected president of the Finnish Nurses' Association, a position she held for 24 years. As a result of her international involvement, she was also elected president of the International Council of Nurses (ICN). Mannerheim was, together with Dr Arvo Ylppö, co-founder of the Children's Castle (Lastenlinna) hospital in Helsinki as well as the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare.