#OnThisDay 121 years ago on Dec 10th 1901, the first ever Nobel Prize Awards were given out amidst a lot of tension, drama and secrecy.
Join me on a #HistoryTour to revisit that memorable day that kickstarted a global tradition of excellence.
A brief thread🧵
Join me on a #HistoryTour to revisit that memorable day that kickstarted a global tradition of excellence.
A brief thread🧵
Alfred Nobel was born in 1833 into a family of engineers & was an inventor himself. He bought the now infamous 'Bofors' steel mill to develop multiple weapons - most famous of which was the Dynamite.
Nobel amassed a fortune by selling all of his ammunition inventions
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Nobel amassed a fortune by selling all of his ammunition inventions
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In 1888, Alfred's brother Ludvig Nobel died. A French newspaper mistook that Alfred had died & published an obituary titled 'The merchant of death is dead' in reference his weapons
This disconcerted Alfred very much as he didnt want to be remembered this way post his death
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This disconcerted Alfred very much as he didnt want to be remembered this way post his death
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The obituary made him change his will before his death in 1896. His will specified that his fortune be used to create a series of prizes to those who bring 'greatest benefit to mankind' in sciences, literature & in world peace.
Many were shocked with this decision! 4/n
Many were shocked with this decision! 4/n
It involved a large sum of money (300 million dollars as of today) & many benefactors involved. So it took almost 5 yrs for the will to be carried out & resolve complaints from all parties involved.
A Nobel foundation was instituted to take care of the fortune & award the prizes
A Nobel foundation was instituted to take care of the fortune & award the prizes
As per the will, 5 prizes were to be given - highest achievers in Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature & Peace.
Winners were to be called 'Laureates' after the ancient Greek tradition of putting a wreath made of the leaves of the Laurel tree on heroes & winners.
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Winners were to be called 'Laureates' after the ancient Greek tradition of putting a wreath made of the leaves of the Laurel tree on heroes & winners.
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The first award ceremony was set to happen in December 1901. The Peace prize was set to be given in Oslo while the other 4 was to be given in Stockholm.
But there was tension in the air. The names of winners were kept secret. No one knew who would get the headline prizes.
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But there was tension in the air. The names of winners were kept secret. No one knew who would get the headline prizes.
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When 3 distinguished German men arrived by train and were escorted to the Grand Hotel in Stockholm, the rumours ran in full force guessing that the winners were from the south in Germany. International train travel was not commonplace then unlike now.
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The large hall of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music was the venue & was fully decorated with a festive mood. A giant laurel hung on the stage with a blue and gold ribbon of Sweden.
4 Obelisks were set up on the stage with PHYSICS, CHEMISTRY, MEDICINE, LITERATURE inscribed!
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4 Obelisks were set up on the stage with PHYSICS, CHEMISTRY, MEDICINE, LITERATURE inscribed!
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The first prize given out was for physics to the German scientist Wilhelm Roentgen for the discovery of X rays.
For the 1st time ever, chilling images showing the inside of the human hand as seen by an X ray was shown to the public stunning them & other scientists alike!
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For the 1st time ever, chilling images showing the inside of the human hand as seen by an X ray was shown to the public stunning them & other scientists alike!
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The next was for Chemistry given to the Dutch scientist Jacobus Van Hoff for his work on Osmotic pressure & Chemical Equilibirum. He gave a lecture on Why do plants wither? as part of the acceptance lecture explaining his work to the common public
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11/n
Next was the Medicine Prize. Again to a German scientist, Emil Von Behring for his work on finding a cure for Diptheria
Diptheria was a common cause of death in children then & a menace to humanity. Emil's discovery had already earned him the title 'Saviour of Children' 12/n
Diptheria was a common cause of death in children then & a menace to humanity. Emil's discovery had already earned him the title 'Saviour of Children' 12/n
The Literature prize went to the poet Sully Prudhomme. The peace prize which garnered much interest was given to the Red Cross - a voluntary medical relief society to aid the sick and wounded in times of war.
The Red Cross went on to win the Nobel Peace prize 2 more times! 13/n
The Red Cross went on to win the Nobel Peace prize 2 more times! 13/n
Overnight the winners became global names and lifelong heroes. Since then 120 years and 600+ more awards have been given out with economics getting added later
Einstein to Obama, Curie to Churchill, Dalai Lama to Tagore have all spread a wide group of people winning the award!
Einstein to Obama, Curie to Churchill, Dalai Lama to Tagore have all spread a wide group of people winning the award!
Winning a Nobel still remains the pinnacle recognition in all these fields & most sought after!
One obituary changed it all & Alfred Nobel's will continues to live on awarding the best that humanity produces!
RT this thread if you liked this #HistoryTour & follow for more!
One obituary changed it all & Alfred Nobel's will continues to live on awarding the best that humanity produces!
RT this thread if you liked this #HistoryTour & follow for more!
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