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Alfred Nobel was born in Stockholm.
Alfred Nobel was born in Stockholm on the 21st of October in 1833. He was the fourth child in the family of Immanuel Nobel and Andriette Nobel. His father was an engineer who built bridges and buildings in Stockholm. -
The family moved to Russua.
Unfortunately, when Alfred was 4 his father became a bankrupt and had to move to St. Petersburg to begin a new career in Russia. The family followed him in 1842. Immanual Nobel was successful in his new enterprise and started a factory making military equipment for the Crimean War. -
Financial crisis
Immanuel always dreamed about giving his children good education. So, he sent Alfred to private tutors in Russia. The boy studied chemistry and physics, he was good at English literature and became fluent in English, French, German, and Russian, and Swedish. After the financial crisis, in 1863 the family had to move back to Sweden and Alfred soon began dangerous experimenting. He concentrated on developing nitroglycerine as an explosive. -
Explosions in the factory
On the 3d of September in 1865 there were several explosions in the factory of his father. The factory was complitely ruined and his younger brother Emil was killed. Alfred was depressed but he continued his work. -
Invention of Dynamite
Nobel discovered that a mix of nitroglycerin and a fine porous powder was most effective. He named this mixture dynamite, and received a patent in 1867. To be able to detonate the dynamite rods he also invented a detonator. These inventions were used for drilling tunnels, building canals and many other forms of construction work. -
Alfred Nobel died of a heart attack in Italy
Alfred died of a heart attack in Italy on the 10th of December in 1896. In his last will and testament, he wrote that his fortune was to be used for prizes in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and peace.
