Florence nightingale graham beauty icon black diamond

American cosmetics entrepreneur who introduced a scientific approach to the manufacture of cosmetics and built a multimillion-dollar empire based on her "total woman" approach; she was also one of the nation's top owners of thoroughbreds. Name variations: Florence Graham; Elizabeth N. Left high school out of necessity to seek employment; joined her brother William in New York ; began a beauty salon ; launched her first branch salon ; her business empire began to grow under the name Elizabeth Arden ; eventually her products were sold in 78 countries; became interested in thoroughbred racing, a venture in which she also made a great deal of money.

Born into dire poverty near Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on the last day of the year in , the child named Florence Nightingale Graham would become one of America's wealthiest entrepreneurs.

Florence nightingale graham beauty icon black diamond: Elizabeth Arden was born Florence Nightingale

But in the village of Woodbridge, as the fourth of five children, she arrived in her family as another mouth to feed. Florence's parents were both immmigrants to Canada. Her father was William Graham, a Scotsman who made his living as a market gardener. Susan Graham died when Florence was six, and the only thing that allowed the Graham children to go to school rather than to work was a small allowance left to them by an aunt.

When the allowance ended, Florence had to leave high school and seek employment. In her first jobs, as a dental assistant, cashier, and stenographer, she approached her positions creatively. Working for the dentist, it was her notion to advertise, bombarding the dentist's patients with clever letters that implied what might happen if they didn't stop by for a checkup; in a year, her employer's business doubled.

She found her niche, finally, employed at Eleanor Adair's, a beauty specialist, where she began learning the elementary formulas for manufacturing and selling cosmetics.