OCTOBER 26, 1863
A conference was held in Geneva to look at ways of improving medical services on battlefields.
It was set up by the International Committee for Relief to the Wounded and was attended by 18 official delegates from national governments, including France, Austria, Russia and Prussia, along with other non-governmental delegates.
It led to the formation of the International Red Cross.
The Geneva meeting came about after Swiss businessman Jean-henri Dunant came across the aftermath of the Battle of Solferino, an engagement in the Austro-sardinian War, while travelling in Italy.
In a single day, about 40,000 soldiers on both sides died or were left wounded on the field. Dunant was shocked by the suffering of the wounded soldiers, and the near-total lack of medical attendance and basic care. He completely abandoned the original intent of his trip and, for several days, he devoted himself to helping with the treatment and care for the wounded.
Afterwards, he decided to write a book entitled A Memory Of Solferino which he published using his own money in 1862.
He sent copies of the book to many leading political and military figures throughout Europe in a bid to affect change.
The result was the Geneva conference and the formation of a humanitarian society which still exists today.