Alfred Nobel, a Swedish chemist, engineer, inventor and industrialist, invented the nitroglycerin-based explosive dynamite.http://nobelpeaceprize.org/en_GB/alfred-nobel/ Nobel was one of the wealthiest men in the world during the last two decades of nineteenth century.http://nobelpeaceprize.org/en_GB/alfred-nobel/ In 1895, Nobel signed his will to donate most of his wealth to fund the Nobel Prize.http://nobelprize.org/alfred_nobel/biographical/articles/life-work/http://nobelprize.org/alfred_nobel/will/http://nobelpeaceprize.org/en_GB/alfred-nobel/testament/

Nobel also invented ballistite and blasting gelatin.http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/416842/Alfred-Bernhard-Nobel He obtained a total of 355 patents throughout his career.http://nobelpeaceprize.org/en_GB/alfred-nobel/ A synthetic element nobelium was named after Nobel to commemorate his achievements.http://periodic.lanl.gov/elements/102.html At the time of his death in 1896, Nobel's business empire consisted of more than 90 explosives and armaments factories all around the world.http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/416842/Alfred-Bernhard-Nobel

In 1850, Nobel went to Paris to work for Jules Pelouze.http://nobelprize.org/alfred_nobel/biographical/timeline/ Following the Crimean war, the Nobel company went bankrupt in 1859.http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/416842/Alfred-Bernhard-Nobel Nobel began an extensive search for new products and started experimenting with nitroglycerin, a newly discovered liquid explosive.http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/416842/Alfred-Bernhard-Nobelhttp://nobelprize.org/alfred_nobel/biographical/timeline/ In 1863, he went on to obtain his first patent on nitroglycerin.http://nobelprize.org/alfred_nobel/biographical/timeline/

Nobel used diatomaceous earth to stabilize nitroglycerin and named the mixture dynamite.http://nobelprize.org/alfred_nobel/biographical/timeline/ He obtained a patent on dynamite in 1867.http://nobelpeaceprize.org/en_GB/alfred-nobel/ Following the invention of dynamite, Nobel built up a web of nitroglycerin and dynamite factories around Europe and became one of the wealthiest men in the world.http://nobelprize.org/alfred_nobel/biographical/timeline/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/416842/Alfred-Bernhard-Nobel Nobel established companies and factories such as Nitroglycerin AB, Alfred Nobel & Co Factory and the United States Blasting Oil Company.http://nobelprize.org/alfred_nobel/biographical/timeline/ Nobel went on to invent a more powerful version of dynamite called blasting gelatin in 1875 and the smokeless blasting powder ballistite in 1887.http://nobelprize.org/alfred_nobel/biographical/timeline/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/416842/Alfred-Bernhard-Nobel

Nobel signed his will on November 27, 1895.http://nobelprize.org/alfred_nobel/will/ He donated most of his fortune to fund an annual honorary award. Since 1901, the Nobel Prizes have been awarded each year for achievements in the fields of physics, chemistry, medicine or physiology, literature and for peace.http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/about/http://nobelpeaceprize.org/en_GB/alfred-nobel/

A heart can no more be forced to love than a stomach can be forced to digest food by persuasion.http://nobelprize.org/alfred_nobel/biographical/aphorisms.html

Alfred Nobel

We build upon the sand, and the older we become, the more unstable this foundation becomes.http://nobelprize.org/alfred_nobel/biographical/aphorisms.html

Alfred Nobel

Self-respect without the respect of others is like a jewel which will not stand the daylight.http://nobelprize.org/alfred_nobel/biographical/aphorisms.html

Alfred Nobel

Hope is nature's veil for hiding truth's nakedness.http://nobelprize.org/alfred_nobel/biographical/aphorisms.html

Alfred Nobel

• 1833: Born
• 1862: Began experimenting with nitroglycerin
• 1863: Received his first patent for nitroglycerin
• 1864: Established Nitroglycerin AB in Stockholm, Sweden
• 1865: Founded the Alfred Nobel & Co Factory in Krümmel
• 1866: Stabilized nitroglycerin and invented dynamite
• 1875: Invented blasting gelatin
• 1880: Formed Dynamite Nobel by merging all of his Swedish and Italian companies
• 1887: Discovered ballistite, the blasting powder
• 1896: Died