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.[1]
Mannerheim worked as a bank employee for six years until she married in 1896. After her divorce in 1902[2] she was trained in nursing at the Nightingale School at St Thomas' Hospital[3] 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).[4] Mannerheim was, together with Dr Arvo Ylppö, co-founder of the Children's Castle[5] (Lastenlinna) hospital in Helsinki as well as the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare.[6]