Alfred Nobel was a Swedish chemist, engineer, inventor, businessman, and philanthropist who held 355 patents in his lifetime. His most famous invention was dynamite, which he patented in 1867. Nobel also invented a practical detonator in 1863, which marked the beginning of his reputation as an inventor and the fortune he was to acquire as a maker of explosives. He continued to experiment in search of better explosives and in 1875 he invented a more powerful form of dynamite, blasting gelatin, which he patented the following year. Nobel became wealthy by setting up companies and selling patent rights to dynamite and related products worldwide.

In addition to his work in explosives, Nobel also made several important contributions to science, holding patents in electrochemistry, optics, biology, and physiology. Upon his death, his will provided that the bulk of his fortune go to a fund that would award prizes annually for advancements in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Peace, which became known as the Nobel Prizes.