In 1901, the first Nobel Piece Prize was equally divided between two deserving individuals. Half went to jean Henri Dunant, for his pivotal role in the initiation of the Geneva Convention, which led to the founding of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The other half to Frederic Passy, the founder and president of the first French Piece Society.

Dunant's life was guided by a passionate devotion to the humanitarian cause; he took initiatives and carried out activities of the utmost generosity.

Living in poverty in a poorhouse at Heiden (Canton of Appenzell, Switzerland), Henry Dunant preferred to bequeath the prize money to charitable causes rather than to spend it.