21 May National American Red Cross Founder’s Day

This brief history of today was provided by Andrew Glass of Politico

On this day in 1881, Clara Barton and Adolphus Solomons founded the American National Red Cross, a charitable body with links to the U.S. military that provides humanitarian aid to victims of wars and natural disasters.

Barton had convened a meeting on May 12 to discuss her plans at the home of Sen. Omar D. Conger (R-Mich.). Fifteen people were present, including Rep. William Lawrence (R-Ohio), who became the organization’s first vice president.

Throughout the 1870s and early 1880s, a small group, inspired by Barton, lobbied for congressional approval of the Geneva Conventions. This group often met in Solomons’ home in Washington, D.C. At its first meeting in 1881, Barton was elected president and Solomons a vice president. Solomons helped draft a Senate resolution endorsing the Geneva Conventions.

On March 1, 1882, President Chester Arthur declared that the United States would adhere to the conventions; the Senate ratified his action on March 16.

In hopes of Senate approval, Barton and Solomons also drew up a constitution of an organization they named the American Association of the Red Cross.

Born in Massachusetts in 1821, Barton had helped wounded soldiers during the Civil War. In 1865, President Abraham Lincoln commissioned her to search for missing prisoners of war. She headed the Red Cross into her 80s and died in 1912.