Early Years

    Clara Barton was born in North Oxford, Massachusetts on December 25, 1821. Her birthday had a significant sign to her future. She would later be known as the “Angel of the Battlefield”. She was born to a respected farmer, horse breeder, and politician, and was the youngest of five children.  Most of her early education came from her older siblings, which paid off. By the time she was four she could already spell complicated words.  Her first nursing experience came when she was eleven years old. Her brother David suffered a serious illness and for two years she was dedicated to him; learning to give him medications and nursing him back to health (Women in history, 2011).