24 June 1859: A battle inspires the founding of the Red Cross
In 60 words
On 24 June 1859, the Swiss businessman Henri Dunant saw thousands of wounded soldiers left without care after the Battle of Solferino in northern Italy. His book about it led to the founding of the Red Cross in 1863 and the first Geneva Convention. Dunant shared the first Nobel Peace Prize in 1901.
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