Alfred Krupp

Alfred Krupp (1812–1887) was a German steel manufacturer and inventor who headed the Krupp company, known today as ThyssenKrupp. He inherited his father Friedrich's cast steel workshop at age 14 in 1826 after his father's death and built it into the largest arms supplier of his era, earning the nickname The Cannon King. He is best known for innovations in steel manufacturing, including seamless railway tyres and breech-loading cast steel cannons, and at the time of his death employed 75,000 workers.