Nobel Family, entrepreneurs

Categories / Economy/Personalia
NOBEL FAMILY, entrepreneurs from Sweden. Emmanuel Nobel (1801-72), a professor of descriptive geometry and engineering at Stockholm Technological Institute, came to Russia in 1837, and his family moved to St. Petersburg in 1842. After the Crimean War of 1853-56 began, E. Nobel developed and built mine barriers for the fortresses of Kronstadt and Sveaborg and founded a metalworking plant and an engineering plant; the latter soon closed down due to lack of state orders. He returned to Sweden in 1859. His son Ludwig Nobel (1831-88), who lived in St. Petersburg from 1842, founded L. Nobel Plant (see Russian Diesel) in 1862 and established, together with his brothers Alfred and Robert, one of the largest oil companies in 1876, renamed into the Nobel Brothers Partnership in 1879. He took part in the Russian Technical Society by giving talks on technical and economic issues and donated considerable sums to finance workers' schools and courses. His son Emmanuel (1859-1932) was an Actual Civil Counsellor, who received professional education at Stockholm Technological Institute. The manager of L. Nobel Plant and the Nobel Brothers Partnership, he was also chairman of the board in Volzhsko-Kamsky Bank in the 1900-10s, member and chairman of the board in Noblessner Joint-Stock Company, Russian Powder Manufacture and Sales Company, Russian Lloyd Insurance Company, etc. He took an active part in the work of St. Petersburg Society of Plant and Factory Owners acting as the head of the board in 1912-17. He was also a member of the Council of Congresses of Industry and Trade Representatives and the Council of Congresses of Baku Oilmen. He was engaged in numerous special meetings to discuss major economic issues. Together with other members of the family, he opened a People's House built by architect R. F. Meltzer at 19 Lesnoy Avenue in 1901. He also donated to Women's Medical Institute and its clinics and arranged a field hospital during World War I of 1914-18. He owned a mansion built by architect R. F. Meltzer, assisted by architect E. F. Meltzer, at 21 Lesnoy Avenue in 1902-04, an apartment house built by architect F. I. Lidval at 20 Lesnoy Avenue in 1910-11, and other property.

Reference: Механический завод Людвиг Нобель, 1862-1912. СПб., 1912; Мешкунов В. С. Русские Нобели // Вопр. истории естествознания и техники. 1992. № 4. С. 92-108.

V. S. Solomko. Lidval Fedor (Iogan Friedrich) Ivanovich
Meltzer Ernest Fedorovich
Meltzer Roman (Robert-Friedrich) Fedorovich
Nobel Emmanuel
Nobel Emmanuel Ludwigovich
Nobel Ludwig
the Nobels
Lesnaya Ave/Saint Petersburg, city, house 21
Lesnaya Ave/Saint Petersburg, city, house 20
Lesnaya Ave/Saint Petersburg, city, house 19
Механический завод Людвиг Нобель, 1862-1912. СПб., 1912
Мешкунов В. С. Русские Нобели // Вопр. истории естествознания и техники. , 1992 Russian Diesel Engine Plant
Russian Technical Society
Volzhsko-Kamsky Commercial Bank
Society of Plant and Factory Owners of St. Petersburg
1862