Alfred Bernhard Nobel was born in Stockholm, Sweden on 31st October 1833. When he was 9 years old, his family moved to St. Petersburg. He was educated mostly privately and at the age of 16 was a sciencetifically trained chemist.

     He loved literature and the natural sciences. He knew English,   German, French, Swedish and Russian. He travelled to Paris and USA to continue his studies. Then he worked in his father´s factory. He began to experiment with nitroglicerine, the manufacture of which developed into a world industry. Then he invented new, improved explosive, dynamit. He received a patent in 1867.

     But it isn´t his only discovery. He discovered other explosives, use to minig, constructing highways, railways etc. He travelled a lot, so he wasn´t at home and he was here only on temportary visits. He became very rich.

     He died on 10th December 1896 in San Remo, Italy and left the major part of his large estate in trust to estabilished five prizes. They are awarded every year in physics, chemistry, psychology or medicine, literature and peace. The distribution of these prizes was begun on 10th December 1901, the fifth anniversary of Nobel´s dead. The peace prize is presented in Oslo, other prizes in Stockholm.

     Two people from Czech republic were awarded the Nobel prizes: Professor Jaroslav Heyrovský in 1959 for the discovery and developement of polarography and National Artist Jaroslav Seifert in 1984 for his outstanding contribution to poetry.

1833 - 1896

Alfred Bernhard