Invention and philanthropy · Sweden · 1833–1896
Alfred Nobel Life & Career Timeline
Explosives, international enterprise and a will designed to reward human benefit.
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18331842185118601869187818871896
ANAlfred NobelInvention and philanthropy · Sweden
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About Alfred Nobel
Alfred Nobel was a chemist, inventor and entrepreneur whose fortune established the Nobel Prizes.
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Alfred Nobel biography
Alfred Nobel timeline: key events
Explore 18 documented Moments in chronological order. Read the dates, locations and source references below. Where available, additional context explains why a milestone matters.
Born in Stockholm
Alfred Bernhard Nobel was born to inventor Immanuel Nobel and Andriette Ahlsell.
Source: www.nobelprize.orgFamily reunites in St Petersburg
The Nobel children joined their father and received a cosmopolitan private education.
Source: www.nobelprize.orgStudies chemistry in Paris
Nobel worked in T. J. Pelouze’s laboratory and encountered nitroglycerin.
Source: www.nobelprize.orgVisits the United States
His educational travels included time with Swedish-American engineer John Ericsson.
Source: www.nobelprize.orgNitroglycerin experiments begin
Nobel pursued ways to make the powerful but unstable explosive useful.
Source: www.nobelprize.orgFirst blasting-oil patent
He patented nitroglycerin as an industrial explosive and developed an igniter.
Source: www.nobelprize.orgHeleneborg explosion
An accident killed five people, including Nobel’s younger brother Emil.
Source: www.nobelprize.orgNitroglycerin AB formed
Nobel created his first joint-stock explosives company after the disaster.
Source: www.nobelprize.orgImproved blasting cap
A more dependable detonator enabled controlled ignition and remains conceptually influential.
Source: www.nobelprize.orgDynamite mixture developed
Nobel stabilised nitroglycerin with kieselguhr, making transport and handling safer.
Source: www.nobelprize.orgDynamite patented
The Swedish patent launched Nobel’s best-known invention internationally.
Source: www.nobelprize.orgBritish Dynamite Company
A factory at Ardeer established production for the British market.
Source: www.nobelprize.orgBlasting gelatine invented
Nobel created a more powerful water-resistant explosive compound.
Source: www.nobelprize.orgMeets Bertha von Suttner
Their correspondence helped sustain Nobel’s interest in peace and disarmament.
Source: www.nobelprize.orgBallistite patented
Nobel developed a smokeless propellant used in firearms and artillery.
Source: www.nobelprize.orgAcquires Bofors and Björkborn
The industrial works and manor became Nobel’s final Swedish base.
Source: www.nobelprize.orgSigns final will
Nobel directed most of his fortune to prizes in science, literature and peace.
Source: www.nobelprize.orgDies in Sanremo
Nobel died aged 63; the first prizes specified in his will were awarded in 1901.
Source: www.nobelprize.orgThis educational timeline is not endorsed by or affiliated with Alfred Nobel or their representatives. Event text is original editorial copy based on the linked sources.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · Licence shown on source file
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About the Alfred Nobel timeline
Who is Alfred Nobel?
Alfred Nobel was a chemist, inventor and entrepreneur whose fortune established the Nobel Prizes.
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This public timeline currently contains 18 sourced moments spanning 1833–1896.
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This public timeline is created and maintained by Memmie Editorial Team. Schools, clubs and cultural organisations can apply to become timeline partners.
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