Who Was Alfred Bernhard Nobel? The Man Behind Nobel Prize- History, Biography And His Achievements

Man Behind Nobel Prize: Each year, people around the globe mark Nobel Prize Day on 10 December to honour the death anniversary of Alfred Bernhard Nobel - the man behind one of the most prestigious awards in science, literature, peace, and economics. But who was Alfred Nobel, and how had he ended up creating such a big-deal award? Alfred Nobel was an inventor, scientist, businessman, engineer and writer, whose life took a turn after he invented Dynamite (an explosive material). When he invented Dynamite, he earned fame, wealth and global recognition. However, his invention was also destroyed during the wars and conflicts, making him think about how history would see him.

Then, a shocking event flipped his life upside down - when his death was mistakenly published by a newspaper, calling him "The Merchant of Death." That hit him deeply and encouraged him to leave behind his legacy that promoted peace and knowledge. He aimed that instead of being known as the creator of explosives, he must be known as a person who worked for humanity’s better future. This led to the creation of the Nobel Prizes, which continue to inspire the world even today.

As we are observing Nobel Prize day, let’s know more about Alfred Nobel’s life history and how he became a symbol for peace.

Early Life and Background

Alfred Nobel's young age picture (Image: Wikipedia)

Alfred Bernhard Nobel was a Swedish chemist, born on 21 October 1833 in Stockholm, Sweden. He was the third son of an inventor and engineer, Immanuel Nobel (father) and Andriette Nobel (mother). The couple married in 1827 and had eight children, including Alfred Nobel. Alfred was sent to private tutors for his early studies, and he was skilled in chemistry, physics and different languages from a young age.

From 1841 to 1842, Nobel attended an Apologistic School in Stockholm, his only schooling. Later, he never went to university. He could speak five languages: Swedish, French, Russian, English, German, and Italian and had a strong passion for inventing.

Quick Facts

* Born in Stockholm, Sweden
* Skilled chemist and engineer
* Fluent in multiple languages
* Passion for science and writing

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Invention of Dynamite and Controversies

Dynamite image (Image: Canva)

As a young man, Nobel studied with russian origin chemist Nikolai Zinin, with whom he went to Paris in 1850, and there he met Ascanio Sobero, who was researching Nitroglycerin. Sobero was opposed to using nitroglycerin as it was explosive under heat. But Nobel became interested in finding a way to control and use nitroglycerin as a commercially usable explosive, which is much stronger than gunpowder.

In 1867, Nobel came up with dynamite - an explosive that became famous for safer mining and construction. It transformed industry, but when it was used in war and conflicts, it also wreaked havoc. Nobel was extremely worried by the unfavourable effects of his invention, because he had no intention of causing harm.

Uses of Dynamite

* Construction of roads and bridges
* Mining industry
* Large-scale engineering works

Why Alfred Nobel Started the Nobel Prize

Alfred Nobel's pic of his two stages of life (Image: Canva)

In 1888, Nobel’s brother died, but some newspapers mistakenly published Alfred’s obituary (news of death) by labelling and criticising him as“The Merchant Of Death”. This hurt Aflred deeply, and that led him to rethink his legacy when he left the world. Nobel decided to change how the world would remember him. He left the majority of his wealth to establish the Nobel Prize in his 1895 testament. Five years after his passing, in 1901, the first prizes were presented.

Categories of Nobel Prizes

* Physics
* Chemistry
* Medicine
* Literature
* Peace
* (Economics added later in 1968)

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Alfred Nobel turned a controversial past into something legacy of peace, discovery and knowledge. Right now, those prizes named after him push people worldwide to aim higher, showing how just one choice might change everything.