Tribute to Jean Henry Dunant, founder of the Red Cross.

Jean Henri Dunant was born in Geneva on 8 May 1828.

On 24 June 1859, Dunant arrived at Solferino where he witnessed one of the fiercest battles of the 19^th century. 

The Battle of Solferino lasted for more than 15 hours and more than 40,000 were wounded. With the help of the villagers at Castiglione, he worked tirelessly, giving comfort and what medical care he could to the injured men.

Back at Geneva, Dunant published a book entitled "A Memory of Solferino” in 1862, which he put forward his ideas to foster the creation in every country of a society for the relief of the military wounded and capable of helping the army medical services to carry out their tasks.

In his effort to establish the Red Cross, Dunant neglected his business and he was declared bankrupt in 1867. Deprived of his citizenship, Dunant resigned from the ICRC and left Geneva to live in Paris.

In 1872, Dunant left Paris and went to London to pursue his ideas to convince people of the need for an international treaty for protection of prisoners-of-war.

Dunant left England in 1874 and wandered from place to place for the next twelve years, living in poverty and obscurity.

In 1887, Dunant returned to Heiden where he spent the rest of his days.

In 1895, one young journalist discovered Dunant warded in District Hospital.  Dunant became famous again after his story was published.

Dunant was awarded the first Nobel Peace Prize for humanitarian work in December 1901.

Dunant died on 30 October 1910 (82 years old).