In 1888, a Swedish inventor read his obituary before his death. It read, “The merchant of death is dead.”, which is something that no one wants to be their legacy. His name was Alfred Nobel, and the printing happened in a French newspaper that wrongly confused him with his brother, who was the one actually died. This obituary might have been the reason for the creation of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Born in Stockholm in 1833, Nobel was an inventor, entrepreneur, scientist, and businessman who held 355 different patents in his lifetime. Nobel's most famous invention, dynamite, was initially a safety advancement in the field of explosives. Before dynamite, the use of nitroglycerin was risky and led to many fatal accidents, including one that killed Nobel's younger brother. By stabilizing nitroglycerin with diatomaceous earth, Nobel created a safer, more manageable form of explosive, significantly impacting mining, construction, and warfare.
With its invention, Nobel became very wealthy and, at his death, his will revealed a surprise. He decided to leave the bulk of his fortune in trust to establish what came to be the most highly regarded of international awards, the Nobel Prize. The prize awards close to $1 million in 2023 dollars to 5 disciplines of physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace. The inclusion of a peace prize, which seems to diverge from his primary interests, is speculated to reflect his desire to alter his legacy from being branded as a "merchant of death."
Today, the Nobel Prizes are among the most prestigious awards, and Nobel's name is predominantly associated with positive contributions, and most people don’t know the origins of Nobel wealth. Reflecting on one's death and potential legacy can be a powerful motivator for changing aspects of one's life and, consequently, one's legacy.
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