Peter Benenson

Date of Birth: July 31, 1921

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Date of Death: February 25, 2005

Biography

Peter Benenson was a distinguished British lawyer and human rights activist, best known as the founder of Amnesty International. Born into a Jewish family in London, Benenson displayed an early inclination towards justice and advocacy. He was educated at Eton College and later attended Balliol College, Oxford, where he studied history. His legal career began after serving in the British Intelligence during World War II and being called to the bar at Lincoln’s Inn in 1947. Benenson’s most notable achievement came in 1961 when he launched the global human rights organization Amnesty International, spurred by his outrage over the imprisonment of two Portuguese students who had toasted to freedom. Over the decades, Amnesty International has grown into a global movement, advocating for prisoners of conscience, fair trials, and the abolition of torture and the death penalty. Benenson continued to champion human rights until his death in 2005.

5 Interesting Facts about Peter Benenson

1. Peter Benenson was originally born Peter James Henry Solomon.

2. He founded Amnesty International with the publication of the article “The Forgotten Prisoners” in The Observer newspaper.

3. Benenson’s efforts led to Amnesty International receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977.

4. He was a descendant of the Russian goldsmiths who served the Russian Tsars.

5. Despite founding Amnesty International, Benenson had a falling out with the organization and resigned in 1966, though he continued to support its mission.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Peter Benenson

1. “It’s better to light a candle than curse the darkness.”

2. “Open your newspaper – any day of the week – and you will find a report from somewhere in the world of someone being imprisoned, tortured, or executed because his opinions or religion are unacceptable to his government.”

3. “The candle burns not for us, but for all those whom we failed to rescue from prison, who were shot on the way to prison, who were tortured, who were kidnapped, who disappeared.”

4. “We have to make sure that people understand that human rights are their rights, and that they are worth defending.”

5. “The fight for human rights is an ongoing battle, one that requires constant vigilance and action.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Peter Benenson’s highest net worth is not precisely documented, as he dedicated much of his life to activism rather than personal wealth accumulation.