(May 8, 1828-October 30, 1910)
Born in Geneva, Switzerland
Founder of the International Red Cross (1863)
Co-recipient of the first Nobel Peace Prize (1901)

He was forced to leave college because of bad grades.
He clashed with other Red Cross leaders and was forced out of the organization.
He went bankrupt and was condemned by the Geneva Trade Court for deceptive practices (1868).
Some pacifists argued he did not deserve the Nobel Peace Prize because the Red Cross had more war more attractive by reducing its suffering.
He became increasingly paranoid late in life and insisted that the cook in his nursing home taste his food in front of him.

After the battle of Solferino in Italy (June 24, 1859), he organized the local civilian population to tend to injured soldiers left on the battlefield and bought medical supplies with his own funds.
Even after bankruptcy left him in poverty, he continued pursuing humanitarian ideals.
The Nobel Peace Prize committee declared, 'There is no man who more deserves this honor... Without you, the Red Cross, the supreme humanitarian achievement of the nineteenth century would probably have never been undertaken.'
His birthday is World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day.

Credit: C. Fishel

http://aia.li/22275

E-mail Link to Friend | Report updates or corrections for this profile

For 2010, as of last week, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
For 2009, Out of 31 Votes: 48.39% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 27 Votes: 51.85% Annoying

• Bankruptcy
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 09]
• I Died in 1910 (Ranked: 82)
• I Died in Debt
• Nobel Peace Prize (Ranked: 1901)
• Profiles 22251-22500 (Ranked: 22275)
• Wizard Beards