Born on October 21
Alfred Nobel's Birthday
From dynamite to the Peace Prize.
Next: October 21, 2027
Where it comes from
Alfred Nobel was born in Stockholm on 21 October 1833, and this Story marks his birthday. A chemist, engineer and inventor, he found a safer way to handle nitroglycerine, patented dynamite in 1867 and built factories in some 90 places. He stayed close friends with Bertha von Suttner, a leading peace campaigner.
How it's celebrated
There is no public holiday, but his birthday comes just after the year's Nobel Prizes are announced in early October, which makes it a good day to read about a new laureate.
Did you know
By the age of 17 he could speak and write Swedish, Russian, French, English and German, and he held 355 patents when he died.
Read the full story of Alfred Nobel's Birthday
Star sign
Libra · September 23 – October 22 · Air sign
Fair-minded and charming, forever weighing both sides.