Top 10 interesting facts about Henry Dunant

Henry Dunant. Photo by Time Life Pictures. Wikimedia Commons.

Top 10 interesting facts about Henry Dunant

Jean-Henri Dunant was born on the 8th of May 1828. He was a social activist, humanitarian, businessman, and author who co-founded the Red Cross. 

He became the first Swiss citizen to receive the first Nobel Peace Prize together with Frédéric Passy in 1901.

He also managed the Swiss branch of the YMCA. His words we honor by having the former nursing home in Heiden where he spent his final years turned into the Henry Dunant Museum. 

He even has a medal named after him awarded every two years by the standing committee of the International Red Cross.  He died on the 30th of October 1901.

Here are 10 interesting facts about Henry Dunant:

1. He was the first Swiss Nobel laureate

Henry Dunant was a humanitarian who became the first person to win the Nobel peace prize in 1901. The Nobel prizes were first created according to the will of Alfred Nobel in 1895.

The fields are Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Peace and the first ever awards were handed out in 1901.

Dunant was not the first Nobel peace prize winner he was the first Swiss to win the prize.

The award was shared with French pacifist Frédéric Passy who was active with Dunant in the Alliance for Order and Civilization.

He was awarded the first-ever Nobel Peace Prize for his role in founding the International Red Cross Movement and initiating the Geneva Convention.

2. Henry was the founder of the Swiss branch of the YMCA

Henry Dunant in 1855.Photo by ICRC. Wikimedia Commons.

The YMCA is a worldwide youth organization now based in Geneva, Switzerland founded by George Williams in London.

So far the organization has more than 64 million beneficiaries in 120 countries since its creation on the 6th of June 1844.

The development of the YMCA in Switzerland was handled by Henry Dunant. Originally the YMCA took place in small groups out in the villages or in the cities and was directed by Henry.

Thanks to him the Geneva Association has been active in the formation of the World Alliance in 1855 at the Paris Conference.

3. He was a witness to the aftermath of the battle of Solferino

The battle of Solferino took place on the 24^th of June 1859.

The battle that was considered part of the Second Italian War of Independence resulted in the victory of the allied French Army under Napoleon III against the Austrian Army under Emperor Franz Joseph I.

The battle of Solferino and San Martino was the largest battle since Leipzig in 1813 with more than 234,000 soldiers fighting and Forty thousand wounded, and dying on the battlefield.

Dunant who had traveled to Italy to meet French emperor Napoléon III to discuss difficulties in conducting business in Algeria witnessed the gruesome killings.

Shocked Dunant completely abandoned the original intent of his trip and devoted himself to helping with the treatment and care of the wounded.

He convinced the population to service the wounded without regard to their side in the conflict.

In addition, he organized the civilian population, especially the women and girls, to provide assistance to the injured and sick soldiers by purchasing any needed materials.

4. Dunant Is a co-founder of the Red Cross

ICRC founders-collage. Photo by Gustave Mockly & Henri Dancet. Wikimedia commons.

Henry will forever be remembered for Found the Red Cross.

The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a humanitarian movement founded to protect human life and health and ensure respect for all human beings preventing and alleviating human suffering.

Henry founded the Red Cross with Founders Gustave Moynier who later became his rival, Dr. Théodore Maunoir Guillaume, Henri Dufour, and Dr. Louis Appia

5. He donated his funds to charity and friends

Henry was a great humanitarian who sought to help as many people as he could in his lifetime.

He never spent any of his Nobel prize money on himself instead opted to live simply and reserved his funds for charitable causes and for those who cared for him.

He also donated funds to secure a free bed in the Heiden nursing home always to be available for poor citizens of the region. He then gifted some money to friends and charitable organizations in Norway and Switzerland.

6. His birthday is celebrated as World Red Cross and Red Crescent day

Dunant’s birthday the 8th of May was marked as a holiday in his honor to celebrate his Great life achievements.

World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day are celebrated annually for the principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

The holiday honors Jean-Henry Dunant’s birthday anniversary as the founder of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the recipient of the first Nobel Peace Prize.

His exemplary action during the battle of Solferino inspired many Generations in his footsteps.

7. His life is represented in some fictional elements

Dunant has been featured in numerous fictional elements to showcase his life and works.

The film Henry Dunant: Red on the Cross created in 2006 highlights the period of Henry’s life when the Red Cross was founded.

The second is D’homme à Hommes French-Swiss historical drama film created in 1948.

The third is a staged musical based on his time in Solferino and the founding of the Red Cross. The international film coproduction musical entitled Dawn at Solferino, or Where has Humanity Gone?  was created by Takarazuka Revue in 2010.

8. He has authored a book

Young Henry Dunant. Photo by Unknown author. Wikimedia Commons.

After witnessing the horrific battle at Solferino Dunant wrote a book. He had returned from Geneva early in July and decided to write a book about his experiences.

He titled the book Un Souvenir de Solferino which meant A Memory of Solferino publishing it in 1862.

In the book, he described the battle, what it cost, and the chaotic circumstances afterward.

He developed a grand idea for the development of a neutral organization to provide care to wounded soldiers.

He distributed his book to many leading political and military figures in Europe traveling around the country to promote his ideas. 

His book was largely positively received piquing the interest of the other members who co-founded the Red Cross with him.

9. During his final years he suffered depression and paranoia

Dunant used to live in a nursing home in Heiden until he passed away.

He developed paranoia during this time about pursuit by his creditors and his major rival Gustave Moynier the Swiss Jurist who was active in many charitable organizations in Geneva.

His paranoia grew worse to the extent he insisted that the cook of the nursing home first taste his food before his eyes to protect him against possible poisoning.

He suffered from depression as well depression and paranoia and was said to be agnostic. He even spurned and attacked Calvinism and organized religion generally.

He was finally laid to rest on the 30th of October 1910 with his last act of life sending a copy of Müller’s book to the Italian queen with a personal dedication according to the nurses.

10. Various elements have been named after him in his honor

Bust of Henry Dunant in Minsk. Photo by Pjotr Mahhonin. Wikimedia Commons.

Henry Dunant was an inspiration for his selflessness and empathy. He went to great lengths to help people in need and left behind a legacy.

Various elements have honored his work by naming things after him. The first is the Hospital in Athens Greece which was named Henry Dunant Hospital.

The second is the second highest peak in Switzerland renamed Dunantspitze from Ostspitzeby Swiss Federal President Didier Burkhalter.

The headquarters of the Thai Red Cross Society road nearby was named Henri Dunant Road.

Finally, the submarine internet cable laid between Virginia Beach, East coast, USA, and Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez was named Dunant in 2020.