For more than a hundred years, the Nobel Prize has been awarded annually to scientists who have made the most significant discoveries for humanity, and to writers who have created the most significant literary works.
Alfred Nobel's testament
Chemist, engineer and inventor Alfred Nobel made his fortune primarily through the invention of dynamite and other explosives. At one time, Nobel became one of the richest people on the planet.
In total, Nobel owned 355 inventions.
At the same time, the fame enjoyed by the scientist cannot be called good. In 1888, his brother Ludwig died. However, by mistake, journalists wrote in the newspapers about the death of Alfred Nobel himself. Thus, one day he read his own obituary in the press, entitled "The Merchant in Death is Dead." This incident made the inventor think about what kind of memory will remain of him in future generations. And Alfred Nobel changed his will.
Alfred Nobel's new testament offended the inventor's relatives a lot, who ended up with nothing.
The new will was announced after the death of the millionaire, in 1897.
According to this paper, all of Nobel's movable and immovable property was to be converted into capital, which, in turn, should be placed in a reliable bank. The income from this capital should be annually divided into five equal parts and awarded in the form of a prize to scientists who have made the most significant discoveries in the field of physics, chemistry, medicine; writers who have created the best literary works; as well as those who have made the most significant contributions “to the cohesion of nations, the elimination of slavery or the reduction of existing armies and the promotion of peace conventions” (peace prize).
First laureates
Traditionally, the first prize is awarded in the field of medicine and physiology. So the very first Nobel laureate in 1901 was a bacteriologist from Germany Emil Adolf von Bering, who was developing a vaccine against diphtheria.
The next prize is a laureate in physics. Wilhelm Roentgen was the first to receive this award for the discovery of the rays named after him.
The first Nobel Prize winner in chemistry was Jacob Van't Hoff, who investigated the laws of thermodynamics for various solutions.
The first writer to receive this high award was René Sully-Prudhomme.
The Peace Prize is the last to be awarded. In 1901, it was split between Jean-Henri Dunant and Frederic Passy. Dunant, a humanist from Switzerland, is the founder of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Frenchman Frederic Passy is the leader of the movement for peace in Europe.
