The International Committee of the Red Cross was founded on February 17, 1863

Extract

Some months after the heart-rending appeal of A Memory of Solferino, five Genevese citizens met to put into practice the proposals which Henry Dunant had made at the end of his book. With the exception of General Dufour, these were men of the middle class, without particular authority in their country and without contacts abroad. Nevertheless, they had faith in themselves and in the immense task which they were to undertake. Their discussions revealed uncommon good sense and a very clear perception of their action's possibilities. They were aware of what they could do in 1863, and they left it to future generations to achieve what would have been Utopian in their day. It was therefore with calm assurance that they addressed themselves to Heads of State and to public opinion.