Alfred Nobel

21 October 1833 – 10 December 1896

Alfred Nobel was a Swedish chemist, engineer, inventor, and industrialist best known for inventing dynamite and for bequeathing his fortune to establish the Nobel Prizes. He held more than 350 patents and built a business empire spanning explosives manufacturing and armaments.

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Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Alfred Nobel.

Life events

Born in Stockholm, Sweden
21 October 1833

Alfred Nobel was born to engineer and inventor Immanuel Nobel and Karolina Andriette Ahlsell.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Moved with his family to Saint Petersburg, Russia
1842

The family joined Immanuel Nobel in Saint Petersburg, where his father's engineering business prospered and Alfred received private tutoring.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Relocation ✓
Studied chemistry abroad, including with Théophile-Jules Pelouze in Paris
c. 1850

Nobel traveled to study chemical engineering, and in Paris he encountered nitroglycerin through Ascanio Sobrero's circle.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Education ✓
Brother Emil killed in a nitroglycerin explosion at Heleneborg
3 September 1864

An explosion at the family's nitroglycerin workshop near Stockholm killed Alfred's younger brother Emil and several others, spurring his search for a safer explosive.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Personal ✓
Patented dynamite
1867

Nobel patented dynamite, a stabilized form of nitroglycerin absorbed in kieselguhr, which made blasting far safer and built his fortune.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Patented gelignite (blasting gelatin)
1875

Nobel developed a more powerful and stable explosive by combining nitroglycerin with nitrocellulose.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Acquired the Bofors ironworks and armaments company
1894

Nobel purchased AB Bofors in Sweden and redirected it toward chemical and armaments production.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Signed his final will establishing the Nobel Prizes
27 November 1895

At the Swedish-Norwegian Club in Paris, Nobel signed the will that dedicated the bulk of his estate to annual prizes in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Died in Sanremo, Italy
10 December 1896

Nobel died of a cerebral hemorrhage at his villa in Sanremo at the age of 63.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓