A Memory of Solferino

Henri Dunant (1828-1910) was a Swiss businessman, humanitarian, and social activist. His life's work was profoundly influenced by his experience at the Battle of Solferino in 1859, where he was horrified by the lack of care for the thousands of wounded soldiers. This led him to write A Memory of Solferino, in which he proposed the creation of a neutral organization to provide aid in times of war. This idea ultimately led to the co-founding of the International Committee of the Red Cross. His humanitarian efforts were recognized with the first Nobel Peace Prize in 1901.