Clara Barton

Nurse

Clara Barton was born on Christmas day in 1821 in Massachusetts.  She was the youngest of 5 children and was very shy.  When she was 11 she spent two years taking care of her brother who was hurt in an accident.  She would use these skills she learned later in her life. When she was 15 years old she became a teacher.  After 18 years she wanted a change.

        Clara moved to Washington, D.C. during the Civil War.  She collected medical supplies for the wounded.  She would go onto the battlefield to help soldiers who were hurt.  It didn’t matter to her if they were from the north or south.  Clara also helped look for men who were missing in the war.  She became known as “the angel of the battlefield.”

        Clara saw a need for the “Red Cross” in America.   The Red Cross would help people in war and other disasters like a flood or an earthquake.  With her hard work the United States created the Red Cross in 1881.  Clara traveled around the country and world helped people.  She worked for the Red Cross until she was 82 years old.