Mary Seacole was a daring adventurer of (0) THE 19th century. With a white father and a native mother, she was a Jamaican woman of 1 race, and she was awarded the Order of Merit posthumously by the government of Jamaica and celebrated as a Black Briton in the United Kingdom. Seacole authored a book 2 on her travels in Panama, where she ran a store for men going overland to the California Gold Rush. Her experiences in the Crimean War, 3 she ran a store and catering service for officers, proved invaluable. There she was known for her compassion and dedication, 4 which she earned the nickname Mother Seacole. Mary Jane Grant was born in Kingston, Jamaica, sometime in 1805, although she kept her actual 5 date a secret. She gave 6 census an incorrect age twice, reporting herself five years younger than she actually was. Her year of birth is taken from her death certificate. Seacole died of a stroke on May 14, 1881, and was a rich woman at the 7 of her death. Seacole left 8 much of her money to her sister in Jamaica.