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Clara BartonAmerican teacher, employee, nurse, founder of the American Red Cross
Date of Birth: 25.12.1821
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Biography of Clara Barton
- Service during the Civil War
- Post-War Activities
- Founder of the American Red Cross
- Legacy
Biography of Clara Barton
Early Life and EducationClara Harlowe Barton was born on December 25, 1821, in Oxford, Massachusetts. She was one of the first American female teachers and worked in various schools in Oxford, Charlton, and West Millbury for about 12 years. In 1850, Barton decided to continue her own education and studied literature and languages at the Clinton Liberal Institute in New York. Afterward, she opened her own school in New Jersey. Despite having a successful school with 600 students, she was overlooked for the position of director in favor of a man. Disappointed, she moved to Washington, D.C., and started working at the Patent Office, becoming the first woman to hold a responsible position in a federal government organization.
Service during the Civil War
When the Civil War broke out, Barton cared for wounded soldiers in the Senate chambers in Washington, D.C. She later gained permission to accompany army ambulances and provide necessary supplies and medication to soldiers and nurses. She fought against army bureaucracy and successfully obtained permission to bring her own supplies collected from volunteers to the battlefields. In August 1862, she was granted permission to go to the front lines, where she experienced some of the war's darkest battles, including the sieges of Petersburg and Richmond in Virginia. General Benjamin Butler appointed her in charge of hospitals in the Army of the James. During her service, a bullet tore through her dress sleeve and killed a wounded soldier she was trying to help.
Post-War Activities
After the war, Barton managed the Office of Missing Soldiers in Washington, D.C. She gained widespread recognition by giving lectures across the country about her war experiences. In 1869, during a trip to Geneva, Switzerland, Barton became familiar with the principles and methods of the Red Cross. She assisted in setting up military hospitals during the Franco-Prussian War in 1870 and received several European awards for her assistance to the Red Cross. Upon her return to the United States, Barton worked tirelessly to gain recognition from the U.S. government for the International Committee of the Red Cross. Despite skepticism, she convinced her fellow citizens that the American Red Cross could respond to various crises, such as helping orphans and victims of natural disasters and conflicts in other countries.
Founder of the American Red Cross
Barton naturally became the president of the American Red Cross and led the organization for 23 years. The first official meeting of the American Red Cross took place in Washington, D.C., on May 21, 1881. Barton retired in 1904 at the age of 83 but remained heavily involved in philanthropic work until her death. She passed away on April 12, 1912, at the age of 90 due to complications from tuberculosis. Throughout her final moments, she was surrounded by her friends.
Legacy
In 1975, the Clara Barton National Historic Site was established in Glen Echo, Maryland, where Barton spent the last 15 years of her life. The site serves as a museum dedicated to preserving her memory and showcasing her contributions to humanitarian efforts in the United States.
