ALFRED NOBEL

 

ALFRED NOBEL(1833- 1896):

He was scientist, inventor, Businessman and founder of the Nobel prizes. He was born in Stockholm, Sweden at October 21, 1833.

 His father's name was Immanuel Nobel and Mother's name was Andretti Ahlsell Nobel. His father was a Swedish engineer, architect, inventor and industrialist and he was3rd of the eight children of his parents. His father appointed private tutor to educate Alfred. He especially loved chemistry and languages. He was fluent in English, German, French and Russian.

 He studied under the chemist Nikolai Zinin and went to Paris in 1850. Such was his love for chemistry that he went to the U.S as 18 year old to further his knowledge on the subject. He loved literature from a young age and used to write poetry.

 His parents were opposed to his literary pursuits, so he never got his work published. He started working in his father's factory after completing his studies. Alfred was deeply interested in studying explosive and obsessively experimented with nitroglycerine. A tragic accident happened at the shed used preparing nitroglycerin in which five people, including his younger brother ,Emil, were killed. Nobel became more focused on developing explosive that  were safer than nitroglycerin. Later he found that when nitroglycerin was combined  with an absorbent inert substance, it became more convenient to handle and safer to use.

 This new substance, dynamite, was patented in 1867 and adopted in wide usage in mining internationally. It the first safely manageable explosive that was stronger than black powder .Continuing his fascination with nitroglycerin, he mixed it with nitrocellulose compounds and developed a transparent, jelly like substance which was even more powerful than dynamite. It was called gelignite and patented in 1876.Gelignite was more stable and better for the purpose of mining.

 He formulated a smokeless propellant made from nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin which also contained 10% camphor. This mixture was called ballistae and was patented next year. He fell in love with a Russian girl called Alexandra, who rejected his proposal. He later developed feelings for his secretary Bertha Kinsey and they had a close friendship until his death. He met Sofia Hess in 1876 and developed a relationship with her that lasted for 18 years.

 He never married or had children. His brother Ludwig died in canes, in 1888.A French newspaper wrongly the obituary of Alfred Nobel, stating that "The merchant of death is dead". Alfred was highly upset to realize that this was how he would be remembered after his death. He wanted to do something to redeem his reputation and left a major portion of his massive wealth for the creation of an international prize fund for honoring eminent personalities in the field of physics, chemistry, medicine, literature , and for work in peace.

 His last will, signed on 27th November 1895,laid the foundations for the prize.

 The first Nobel were awarded in 1901.He held the total of 355 different patterns.

 He has an element in the periodic table named after him called nobelium.

 He died of an Intracerebral hemorrhage at Sarema,

 Italy on December 10,1896,at the age of 63.