Born on this day in 1833, Alfred Nobel was a Swedish chemist, engineer, inventor, businessman, and philanthropist, after whom the Nobel Prize was named.

Did you know that:

• English scientist John Dalton read his paper on the absorption of gases by water to the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society on this day in 1803
• Joseph Aspdin patented Portland cement on this day in 1824
• Carrie Fisher was an American actress and writer born on this day in 1956