Karl Benz

Full Name: Karl Friedrich Michael Vaillant
Profession: Automobile Engineer and Inventor

Nationality:

Biography: Karl Benz was a German engine designer and engineer, regarded as the inventor of the first automobile powered by an internal combustion engine.

While contemporaries of Benz, Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach were working on similar engines at the same time, it was Benz who received a patent for his work first. Subsequently Benz would go on to patent all the processes necessary to make the internal combustion engine feasible for use in an automobile.

Benz along with his wife Bertha went on to found the Mercedes-Benz company to commercialize this technology. It is now one of the world's leading luxury car brands.

Born: November 25, 1844
Birthplace: Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Star Sign: Sagittarius

Died: April 4, 1929 (aged 84)
Cause of Death: Bronchial inflammation

Articles and Photos

1st Car Race in America
The winning vehicle, a Duryea Motor Wagon Company vehicle driven by Frank Duryea
September 28, 1895

Married Life

1872-07-20 Inventor Karl Benz (27) weds Bertha Ringer

Historical Events

1886-01-29 Karl Benz patents the "Benz Patent-Motorwagen" in Karlsruhe, Germany, the world's 1st automobile with a burning motor
1886-07-03 In Germany, Karl Benz first drives the first automobile in Mannheim at a top speed of 16 km/h (10 mph)
1888-08-12 Bertha, wife of inventor Karl Benz, makes 1st motor tour
1894-06-26 Karl Benz of Germany receives US patent for gasoline-driven auto
1896-05-19 1st automobile made by Karl Benz, arrives in Netherlands
1924-05-01 German automobile manufacturers Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft and Benz & Cie begin their first joint venture (later merge into Mercedes-Benz)