Alfred Nobel (1833-1896)
Alfred Nobel was born on October 21, 1833, in Stockholm, Sweden. When Alfred was just nine years old, his family moved to Saint Petersburg where his father started a “torpedo” works. Alfred received his early education by private tutors. When he was older he worked at his father’s weapon factory. After the war his father’s business went out of business which left the family without money. When he was 18 he traveled to United States and studied chemistry for four years. He also went to Paris where he was newly introduced to nitroglycerin which is an explosive liquid.
Then he started experimenting using chemicals and explosives. He eventually succeeded in exploding nitroglycerin from a distance with a gunpowder charge. Then two years later he patented the mercury fulminate detonator which was important to the development of high explosives. Nobel then built up factories in Hamburg and Stockholm, and soon New York and California. However in 1864, an explosion killed his younger brother which affected him a lot, but inspired him to make a safer explosive which would be dynamite. Nobel used his large amount of wealth to create Nobel Prizes which are now awards given to peoples greatest achievements in the world. He died on December 10, 1896 of a stroke.
Then he started experimenting using chemicals and explosives. He eventually succeeded in exploding nitroglycerin from a distance with a gunpowder charge. Then two years later he patented the mercury fulminate detonator which was important to the development of high explosives. Nobel then built up factories in Hamburg and Stockholm, and soon New York and California. However in 1864, an explosion killed his younger brother which affected him a lot, but inspired him to make a safer explosive which would be dynamite. Nobel used his large amount of wealth to create Nobel Prizes which are now awards given to peoples greatest achievements in the world. He died on December 10, 1896 of a stroke.