Henry Dunant

Awarded for

Founding the Red Cross movement and starting the Geneva Convention

Shared with: Frédéric Passy (France)

The story behind the prize

After seeing thousands of wounded soldiers left without care at Solferino in 1859, Dunant organized local volunteers and wrote a book proposing relief societies in every country. This led to the founding of the Red Cross (1863) and the first Geneva Convention (1864). He shared the prize with Frédéric Passy, a French peace activist.

About

Swiss businessman who saw the suffering of wounded soldiers after the Battle of Solferino (1859) and wrote A Memory of Solferino.

Exam facts

• Shared the first-ever Nobel Peace Prize
• World Red Cross Day (8 May) is his birthday