Alfred Nobel

Alfred Nobel was a Swedish chemist and inventor. He was born in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1833. He invented dynamite. He used his wealth to create the famous Nobel Prizes, which honor the best work in science, literature, and peace.

Early Life

Nobel grew up in Sweden and Russia. His father was an engineer who made explosives. Alfred was taught by private tutors and could speak five languages. He became interested in chemistry at a young age.

Big Achievements

Nobel invented dynamite in 1867, which made construction and mining safer. He held 355 patents in his lifetime. When he died, he left most of his money to create the Nobel Prizes. These prizes have been given every year since 1901.

Fun Facts

• Nobel could speak Swedish, Russian, English, French, and German.
• He also wrote poetry and plays, though none became famous.
• A newspaper once printed his obituary by mistake, calling him a merchant of death.

Did You Know?

The mistaken obituary upset Nobel because it described him as someone who made money from explosions. That is why he decided to leave his fortune to create prizes for people who help humanity.