Alfred Nobel was called "The Merchant of Death"

When Alfred's brother Ludvig passed away in France in 1888, a French newspaper mistakenly published Alfred's obituary in its place. It continued, "Dr. Alfred Nobel, who became wealthy by figuring out how to murder more people faster than ever before, died yesterday." in the subtitle "The Merchant of Death is Dead." Because Nobel acquired his riches using explosives, which were also utilized in combat, he was given the moniker "The Merchant of Death." However, Nobel himself continues to be a figure of paradoxes and contradictions: a brilliant, lonesome man who was equal parts, pessimist and idealist, he invented the potent explosives used in modern warfare and established the most prestigious awards in the world for contributions to human knowledge.

Perhaps Alfred Nobel created the awards to prevent exactly the kind of notoriety that would be suggested by this premature obituary. Unquestionably, the honors he established show his enduring passion for the subjects of physics, chemistry, physiology, and literature. There is also convincing evidence that he was motivated to create the prize for peace by his friendship with the well-known Austrian pacifist Bertha von Suttner.