Historical Figure
Henry Dunant
1828–1910
Swiss co-founder of the Red Cross (1828–1910)
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Biography
Henry Dunant, also known as Henri Dunant, was a Swiss humanitarian, businessman, social activist, and co-founder of the Red Cross. His humanitarian efforts won him the first Nobel Peace Prize in 1901.
In Their Own Words (4)
I was a mere tourist with no part whatever in this great conflict; but it was my rare privilege, through an unusual train of circumstances, to witness the moving scenes that I have resolved to describe. In these pages I give only my personal impressions; so my readers should not look here for specific details, nor for information on strategic matters; these things have their place in other writings.
p. 16; As quoted in The Independent, Friday, 22 February 2002 , 1862
Why could not advantage be taken of a time of relative calm and quiet to investigate and try to solve a question of such immense and worldwide importance, both from the humane and Christian stand-point?
1862
By Thy power, let there be peace, O God!
1862
In one of the Cremona hospitals, an Italian doctor had said: "We keep the good things for our friends of the Allied Army, and give our enemies the bare necessities. If they die, so much the worse!" and he added, to excuse these barbarous words, that he had heard from some Italian soldiers who had returned from Verona and Mantua, that the Austrians allowed the wounded of the Franco-Sardinian army to die uncared for. A noble lady of Cremona, Countess..., who had heard the doctor's words and had been devoting herself to the hospitals with the utmost zeal, made haste to show her disapproval by declaring that she gave exactly the same attention to the Austrians as to the Allies, and made no difference between friends and enemies. "For, she said, "Our Lord Jesus Christ made no such distinctions between men in well doing."
1862
Timeline
The story of Henry Dunant, told in moments.
Witnessed the Battle of Solferino in northern Italy. 40,000 casualties in a single day. Soldiers lay dying in the fields with no medical care. Dunant organized local women to treat the wounded regardless of which side they fought for.
Published A Memory of Solferino. He proposed permanent relief societies and an international agreement protecting wounded soldiers. The book was sent to every European court and military leader.
The International Committee of the Red Cross founded in Geneva. Dunant pushed for it. The first Geneva Convention was signed the following year. He was 35.
Went bankrupt after his Algerian land development company failed. He was expelled from the Red Cross committee. Spent 20 years living in flophouses and homeless shelters across Europe.
Artifacts (2)
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