Clara Barton

Date of Birth: December 25, 1821

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Date of Death: April 12, 1912

Biography

Clara Barton, born Clarissa Harlowe Barton, was a pioneering American nurse who founded the American Red Cross. She was born on December 25, 1821, in North Oxford, Massachusetts. Barton began her career as an educator but found her true calling in nursing during the American Civil War. She earned the nickname “Angel of the Battlefield” for her tireless efforts in providing medical care to wounded soldiers. After the war, Barton continued her humanitarian work, leading efforts to locate missing soldiers and advocating for civil rights. In 1881, she established the American Red Cross, which continues to provide emergency assistance, disaster relief, and education in the United States. Clara Barton’s legacy is marked by her groundbreaking work in both nursing and humanitarian aid.

5 Interesting Facts about Clara Barton

1. Clara Barton was one of the first women to gain employment in the federal government, working as a clerk in the U.S. Patent Office.

2. She was a self-taught nurse, having learned nursing skills while caring for her brother after a serious injury.

3. Barton was instrumental in the search for missing soldiers after the Civil War, establishing the Office of Missing Soldiers.

4. She played a significant role in advocating for the Geneva Treaty, which led to the recognition of the Red Cross.

5. Clara Barton was also an advocate for women’s suffrage and civil rights, supporting the rights of women and African Americans.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Clara Barton

1. “I may be compelled to face danger, but never fear it, and while our soldiers can stand and fight, I can stand and feed and nurse them.”

2. “The door that nobody else will go in at, seems always to swing open widely for me.”

3. “I have an almost complete disregard of precedent, and a faith in the possibility of something better. It irritates me to be told how things have always been done. I defy the tyranny of precedent.”

4. “You must never so much as think whether you like it or not, whether it is bearable or not; you must never think of anything except the need, and how to meet it.”

5. “Everybody’s business is nobody’s business, and nobody’s business is my business.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Clara Barton did not accumulate significant personal wealth; her highest net worth was modest and largely derived from her work as a public servant and humanitarian.