Barton, Clara (1821–1912)

Founder of American Red Cross. Born Clarissa Harlowe Barton in North Oxford, Massachusetts, Dec 25, 1821; died in Glen Echo, Maryland, April 12, 1912; dau. of Captain Stephen (farmer) and Sarah (Stone) Barton; never married; no children.

The 1st woman diplomat in US history and a pioneer in development of first aid and attentive care to war and disaster victims, began career teaching school (1839); started work at US Patent Office (1854); began volunteer Civil War relief work (1861), providing direct assistance to wounded; as news of her work spread, dubbed "Angel of the Battlefield" by press; after fighting ended, went with War Department expedition to Andersonville, GA (scene of Confederate prison camp in which more than 10,000 Union prisoners had died), and helped to mark graves (1865); began touring country on lecture circuit (1866), describing adventures at battle-fronts; recuperated in Corsica after nervous collapse (1869); worked in Franco-Prussian War; campaigned in Washington, DC, for American involvement in Red Cross (1878); received support from President Chester Arthur, and, with his encouragement, the Senate confirmed American participation in the Convention (1882); led American Red Cross for next 23 years; went on innumerable relief expeditions, including visits to 2 more theaters of war (Turkey in 1896 and Cuba during Spanish-American War of 1898); represented US government at 4 international conferences: in Geneva (1884), Carlsruhe (1887), Vienna (1897), and St. Petersburg (1902); ousted from Red Cross leadership (1904).

See also William E. Barton, The Life of Clara Barton: Founder of the American Red Cross (2 vols., Houghton, 1922); Elizabeth Brown Pryor, Clara Barton: Professional Angel (U. of Pennsylvania Press, 1987); Ishbel Ross, Angel of the Battlefield: The Life of Clara Barton (Harper, 1956); and Women in World History.