Henry Dunant (8 May 1828 – 30 October 1910) was a Swiss humanitarian, businessman. In 1901, Henry Dunant was awarded the Nobel Prize in humanitarian efforts.
Life and Career
Henry Dunant was born on 8 May 1828, in Geneva, Switzerland. Dunant received education in business and was involved in various business ventures. However, his true calling came in the form of humanitarian work. He witnessed the suffering of wounded soldiers on the battlefield of Solferino during the Battle of Solferino in 1859. The horrors he witnessed there compelled him to take action.
Dunant’s experience at Solferino led him to write the book “A Memory of Solferino,” in which he proposed the creation of neutral volunteer groups to provide care for wounded soldiers. This laid the foundation for the establishment of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. In 1863, he co-founded the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Geneva, which aimed to provide assistance to wounded soldiers, regardless of their nationality, and ensure respect for medical personnel during armed conflicts.
Henry Dunant passed away on 30 October 1910, in Heiden, Switzerland.
Award and Legacy
As mentioned earlier, Henry Dunant was awarded the first Nobel Peace Prize in 1901, which he shared with Frédéric Passy, in recognition of his significant contributions to humanitarian work and the establishment of the Red Cross.
Henry Dunant’s visionary ideas and tireless efforts paved the way for the establishment of the Red Cross, an organization that has since played a crucial role in providing humanitarian aid during times of crisis and conflict
