[1] Ellen Dougherty was born at Cutters Bay, Port Underwood, New Zealand.

It is believed that before nurse training, she worked with Charles Barraud in his Wellington pharmacy.

In 1893 she accepted the post of matron of the newly opened Palmerston North Hospital.

For the centenary of Nursing, it was arranged with Nursing Council in Wellington that her grave be restored, and on the anniversary of 10 January 2002, the grave was rededicated with family, historians and media attending.

[8] The UK began nurse registration in 1919, the year Ellen Dougherty died.