Dunant, Henri

Dunant, (Jean-) Henri

(born May 8, 1828, Geneva, Switz.—died Oct. 30, 1910, Heiden) Swiss humanitarian. An eyewitness to the Battle of Solferino, he organized emergency aid services for the Austrian and French wounded. In 1862 he proposed the formation of voluntary relief services in all countries and proposed an international agreement covering the war wounded. In 1864 he founded the Red Cross, and the Geneva Convention came into being. He continued to promote interest in the treatment of prisoners of war, the abolition of slavery, international arbitration, disarmament, and the establishment of a Jewish homeland. In 1901 he shared with Frédéric Passy (1822–1912) the first Nobel Peace Prize.