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Ernest Percy Bicknell was born in Vincennes, Indiana, on February 23, 1862. He attended Indiana University, graduating in 1887 with an A.B. Bicknell married Cora Scott in December of 1886. Together they had one son, Clarence Scott Bicknell. Cora died in January of 1888, and Bicknell was remarried to Grace Vawter in 1891. Ernest and Grace had four daughters.

Upon his graduation from IU, he worked for six years at an Indianapolis newspaper and then for five years as secretary to the Indiana Board of Charities. Bicknell then worked as the General Superintendent of the Chicago Bureau of Charities. During that time, he was chosen as the representative for Chicago and Illinois in charge of distributing Red Cross funds to San Francisco in the wake of the 1906 earthquake. In 1908, he was named the National Director of the American Red Cross, a position created specifically for him. He then served as the Director-general of civilian relief for the Red Cross in Washington. Additionally, he served as the president of the National Conference of Charities and Correction from 1908-1909, and as the director of the National Association for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis.

When World War I broke out in Europe, Bicknell was named Deputy Commissioner to France. He also served as a member of several international relief organizations. He served as Commissioner to Belgium from 1917-1918, during which time he was given the military title Lieutenant Colonel. He later served as the Special Commissioner to the Balkan States. After the war ended, he was named Red Cross Deputy Commissioner to Europe, and later Acting Commissioner to Europe, and finally Commissioner to Europe. He also served as the Director of the Rockefeller Foundation War Relief Committee, which sought to aid non-combatants who had suffered due to the war. In April of 1923, he became the Vice Chairman for Insular and Foreign Operations.

His humanitarian work earned him the honor of "Commander of the Crown" by King Albert of Belgium, the Legion of Honor from the French government, the Order of the Crown of Italy, Order of the Red Cross and Order of Prince Danilo of Montenegro, the Order of the Red Cross of Serbia, Order of Saint Anne of Russia, Order of St. Savior of Greece, and Order of Poland Restituta of Poland. Bicknell was additionally awarded the gold medal from the National Institute of Social Science for his work abroad. His wife, Grace, was awarded the Order of Elizabeth by the Queen of Belgium.

Bicknell's book Pioneering with the Red Cross, published in 1935, records his life and humanitarian service. Bicknell was awarded an LL.D. from Indiana University for "representing American charity to all the world." Ernest Bicknell passed away in 1935.