History Is “Fun”

As a prospective college student (back in the day), who really had no idea what he wanted to do, I can certainly sympathize with the late bloomers out there. When it came time to pick a major, it wasn’t a particularly difficult choice. I had always liked to read (not always the things that I was supposed to read for school), and I had always enjoyed the story of how this country came to be. Moreover, I was also pretty dreadful in subjects such as Math and Science, so the choice of History was made even easier. I ascribed to a theory of studying what you enjoy, while knowing that what you enjoy can certainly become a hobby if it doesn’t become a career. As we all know, very few people get to make a career out of their passion. I would suggest that all of us have the opportunity to make a hobby out of our passion(s).

I can’t tell you how many people told me that History was a poor choice and that there was little that it would prepare me for later in life. I am here today to tell you that they were wrong, though well-meaning. I learned how to speak and write well, and I learned how important it is to understand the past on a deep level that allows one to understand and in fact, at times, be flabbergasted by what is happening in the present (think 2021). Speaking well and writing well are kind of lost arts these days and that is a shame. There was a time in our not so distant past when they were quite essential.

 I am enthusiastically promoting the concept (as many have) that History is more than just names and dates, much more. The story of Dr. Alfred Nobel provides a great example of this. Have you ever heard of Dr. Alfred Noble? Probably not. However, I am quite sure you have heard of the Nobel Peace Prize. Same guy… What a lot of people don’t know is that there are also prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Literature. Another interesting, though little-known fact is that each “noble laureate” receives a gold medal featuring the face of Dr. Alfred Nobel, a diploma, and about a million dollars. Alright so some rich guy started an award, what is so interesting about that? Well, as we dig a little deeper, it turns out the story of Dr. Alfred Nobel is quite fascinating and goes far beyond the scope of what one might expect. Remember, History is “fun.”

Alfred Nobel was born in Stockholm, Sweden in 1833 into a wealthy family. His father Immanuel Nobel was very successful in a number of ventures that were usually associated with construction, engineering, and military procurement. The family spent time in Finland and Russia as the family’s fortunes ebbed and flowed over the years of Alfred’s youth (though very successful the path was one of boom and bust at times). Alfred shared his father’s scientific mind but was also very interested in poetry and literature, and incredibly spoke Swedish, Russian, French, English, and German fluently at the tender age of 17. His father disliked and discouraged his interest in these areas and ultimately sent him abroad for studies in chemical engineering. Turns out, young Alfred enjoyed this as well; he was a man of many passions. During his studies, he even spent some time in America.

He ultimately became interested / obsessed with the compound nitroglycerine and the possibility of finding a safe way to use it. Nitroglycerine was produced by mixing glycerin with sulfuric and nitric acid; it was considered far too dangerous to be of any practical use. The appeal of nitroglycerin had much to do with the fact that its explosive power greatly exceeded that of gunpowder. In an age of continual warfare and industrial construction, this alone made it a hypnotic lure. Unfortunately, the liquid would explode in a very unpredictable manner if subjected to heat and pressure. Many people have died over the years learning of its danger the hard way. The early period of the building of the Transcontinental Railroad after the American Civil War included the use of nitroglycerin by the Central Pacific to forge / bore Summit Tunnel through the most formidable parts of the Sierra Nevada range near the summit. You could even suggest that the task would have been virtually impossible without it.

Alfred went back in 1852 to work for the family business in Petersburg, Russia which was now booming as a result of arms shipments and naval mines (developed by Immanuel) to the Russian army during the Crimean War (1853-1856). After the war Immanuel Nobel was forced into bankruptcy for the second time in his life as conditions changed drastically after the war. It was at this point that fortunes changed dramatically for the family. Alfred never forgot about the work he did with nitroglycerine, and he set about the task of making it commercially feasible. Meanwhile his two brothers Robert and Ludvig who remained in Russia after the rest of the family went back to Sweden, managed to salvage the family business by essentially creating the oil industry in the southern part of the Russian empire; they became quite wealthy. Meanwhile Alfred went about the dangerous task of developing nitroglycerine into a usable explosive. Tragically, an explosion in 1864 killed several people including his brother Emil. Eventually, Alfred was able to perfect his new creation with various additives which turned it into a paste. He dubbed his new compound “Dynamite.”  At the same time, he also invented a detonator which allowed for drastically reduced costs and safety for a variety of construction projects in a rapidly industrialized world. Additionally, he helped to revolutionize the art of war and the ability to kill and maim with far greater efficiency. Amazingly, Alfred also went on to establish many other chemical inventions including synthetic leather and silk. By the time of his death in December of 1896, he had 355 patents.

Alfred became, in short order, a very wealthy man. And a man who in fact became a bit (open to interpretation as to degree) haunted to by legacy of his work. In fact, the actual genesis for the creation of the various Nobel Awards is thought to have come from an early reading of his own scathing obituary. In a Mark Twain-like moment, a French newspaper printed an obituary for Alfred mistakenly when his older brother Ludwig died in 1888. Reports of Mark Twain’s Quote About His Own Death Are Greatly Exaggerated | Mental Floss He was referred to as “the merchant of death” and the paper went on to proclaim, “Dr. Alfred Nobel, who became rich by finding ways to kill more people faster, than ever before, died yesterday.” Upon reading this, Nobel was inspired to rewrite his will (94% of his assets went toward the venture) and create the prizes that celebrated and rewarded mankind’s greatest achievements, including peace. * So, if not for a mistakenly written obituary, an iconic, tradition laden award would never have been established. History is full of stories like this. The serendipitous nature of world events is often quite astonishing. ** Or is it? Fun to ponder and consider.  

The official website of the Nobel Prize – NobelPrize.org

*In 1876 at age 43, after new constant travel and hard work Alfred went on to add another strange footnote to his legacy. Feeling a bit worn out and old beyond his years, Alfred advertised the need for a female companion to look after his affairs and provide companionship. Austrian Countess Bertha Kinsky worked for Alfred for a short time and then returned to Austria to be married to Count Arthur von Suttner. They remained lifelong friends and exchanged letters for the rest of Alfred’s life. Obviously, he was quite touched and impacted by the association. She wrote a prominent book Lay Down Your Arms and became a vocal spokesperson for something known as the Peace Movement. In a time of perpetual war and conflict around the globe, these were radical views. World War I was just around the corner and would go on to attest to the carnage of industrialized warfare.  Quite interestingly, it seems very apparent that she must have been a significant inspiration for a Nobel Peace Prize and even more interestingly, Bertha von Suttner went on to win a Nobel Peace Prize in 1905, nine years after Alfred’s death.

**The will and final testament came as a great surprise to many, including relatives and high-ranking authorities in several countries who contested it unsuccessfully for years.

Thomas M. Cook 

10/25/21