Alfred Nobel died on 10 December 1896 in Sanremo, aged 63. A Swedish chemist, engineer and inventor, Nobel invented dynamite in 1867, a safer and more stable explosive based on nitroglycerine, and made a large fortune from explosives and from interests in the Bofors arms company and the Baku oil fields. He was a lifelong bachelor who studied and wrote literature as well as science. When he died, his will left most of his wealth to establish annual prizes in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and peace, and the first Nobel Prizes were awarded in 1901. The prizes have since become the most prestigious awards of their kind.
Before and after
- 27 August 1896Anglo-Zanzibar War
- 24 September 1896Birth of F. Scott Fitzgerald
- 12 October 1896Birth of Eugenio Montale
- 2 December 1896Birth of Georgy Zhukov
- 10 December 1896Death of Alfred Nobel
- 1897Construction of Villa Park
- 1897Publication of The War of the Worlds
- 1897Electron
- 1897Origins of Boston Marathon
More in Science & technology
- 1766Discovery of hydrogen
- 1771Discovery of oxygen
- 1789Discovery of carbon
- 18 August 1868Discovery of helium
- 1875Discovery of gallium
- 1898Discovery of krypton
The era
This moment belongs to the Industrial era (1760 CE to 1914 CE), steam, factories and revolutions. You can also browse everything in the 19th century.