Elizabeth Jane Cochran was born in Cochran's Mills, Pennsylvania, a town named after her father, Michael Cochran, a wealthy landowner and judge. Her early life was comfortable, but after her father's death when she was six years old, the family's financial situation declined significantly. This early exposure to hardship likely fueled her later advocacy for the less fortunate.

Incensed by a misogynistic article titled "What Girls Are Good For" in the "Pittsburgh Dispatch", Elizabeth wrote a fiery rebuttal under the pen name "Lonely Orphan Girl." The editor, impressed by her passionate writing, offered her a position at the paper. She adopted the pen name Nellie Bly, launching her journalism career.

As a reporter for the "Pittsburgh Dispatch", Nellie Bly focused on issues affecting working-class women, including poor factory conditions and the plight of the poor. Her progressive and often critical articles, however, were moved to more 'feminine' topics, such as gardening and fashion, as the paper sought to limit her more radical reporting.

Frustrated with the limited opportunities at the "Pittsburgh Dispatch", Nellie Bly moved to New York City, determined to make her mark on the larger journalistic stage. After struggling to find work, she convinced the "New York World", owned by Joseph Pulitzer, to hire her for a groundbreaking undercover assignment.

Bly feigned insanity to be committed to the Women's Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell's Island (now Roosevelt Island). Her exposé, published in the "New York World", revealed the horrific conditions and abuse suffered by patients, including unsanitary living conditions, inedible food, and physical mistreatment. The report caused a public outcry and led to significant reforms in mental health care.

Inspired by Jules Verne's "Around the World in Eighty Days", Nellie Bly embarked on a race around the world to beat the fictional Phileas Fogg's record. Her journey, filled with daring escapades and encounters with diverse cultures, captured the world's attention. She completed the trip in 72 days, 6 hours, and 11 minutes, setting a new world record and solidifying her reputation as a fearless adventurer.

At the age of 30, Nellie Bly married 73-year-old millionaire manufacturer Robert Seaman. After Seaman's death in 1904, she became the head of the Iron Clad Manufacturing Co., which made steel barrels. Although initially successful, she was eventually forced into bankruptcy due to mismanagement by employees.

During World War I, Nellie Bly returned to journalism as a war correspondent, reporting from the Eastern Front. Her coverage provided a firsthand account of the conflict and its impact on civilians, further demonstrating her commitment to informing the public about important world events.

Nellie Bly died of pneumonia at St. Mark's Hospital in New York City at the age of 57. Her groundbreaking journalism, advocacy for the marginalized, and adventurous spirit left a lasting legacy, inspiring future generations of journalists and women to challenge the status quo and fight for a better world.