SWISS HEROES & COMMANDERS

“ DESPITE THESE HERCULEAN ACHIEVEMENTS, DUNANT’S HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS BANKRUPTED HIM AND HE BECAME A RECLUSE FOR DECADES”

HENRI DUNANT

ARCHITECT OF THE GENEVA CONVENTION & FOUNDER OF THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS 1828-1910

Although he was a civilian, Henri Dunant made an invaluable contribution to humanitarian aid and ethical standards in modern warfare. He was born into a religious family in Geneva and worked as a businessman in North Africa and Italy. While he was organising a financial scheme with Napoleon III of France in 1859, Dunant travelled to directly visit the emperor on campaign. He subsequently witnessed the Battle of Solferino and what he saw horrified him.

Tens of thousands of soldiers were lying dead, dying or wounded on the battlefield and Dunant organised assistance to help