Krupp, Alfred

Krupp, Alfred

▪ German industrialist
byname  The Cannon King,  German  Der Kanonenkönig 
born April 26, 1812, Essen, grand duchy of Berg [now in Germany]
died July 14, 1887, Essen, Ger.
 German industrialist noted for his development and worldwide sale of cast-steel cannon and other armaments. Under his direction the Krupp Works (Krupp AG) began the manufacture of ordnance (c. 1847).

      His father, Friedrich Krupp, who had founded the dynasty's firm in 1811, died in 1826, leaving to his son the secret of making high-quality cast steel, together with a small workshop in which production had come almost to a standstill. Taking full charge of the firm at the age of 14, Alfred soon extended production to include the manufacture of steel rolls. He designed and developed new machines, invented the spoon roll for making spoons and forks, and manufactured rolling mills for use in government mints. He won new customers, extended his firm's purchases of raw materials, and secured funds to finance the expansion of his works. At the first world exhibition, the Great Exhibition, in London in 1851, he exhibited the largest steel ingot ever cast up to that time (4,300 pounds).

      It was with the advent of railways (railroad) that the rise of the firm really began. At first, railway axles and springs of cast steel were the only products made in this field, but in 1852 Alfred Krupp manufactured the first seamless steel railway tire. Later he adopted three superimposed railway tires, the “three rings,” as the trademark of the firm. He was also the first to introduce the Bessemer and open-hearth steelmaking processes to Europe (1862 and 1869).

      To prove the quality of his steel, Alfred Krupp turned to making cannons. Initially he could not sell his guns in Prussia, and the first orders came from Egypt (1856), Belgium (1861), and Russia (1863). As a result, however, of the performance of Krupp guns in the Franco-German War of 1870–71, the firm came to be called “the Arsenal of the Reich.” Alfred Krupp was in many ways the founder of modern warfare. At the time of his death he had armed 46 nations.

      Recognizing early the human problems of industrialization, Alfred Krupp created a comprehensive welfare scheme for his workers. As early as 1836 he instituted a sickness and burial fund, and in 1855 he established a pension fund for retired and incapacitated workers. In 1861 he began to build housing settlements, hospitals, schools, and churches for his employees. His workers became fanatically loyal to him. He had started his steel plant with seven workers; at his death the enterprise was employing 21,000 persons.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Krupp, Alfred — Krupp, Alfred, Industrieller, geb. 26. April 1812 in Essen, gest. daselbst 14. Juli 1887. Sein Vater Friedrich K. (geb. 1787) betrieb in Essen ein Hammerwerk und eine kleine Gußstahlfabrik ohne geschäftliche Erfolge. Nach dem Tode des Begründers… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Krupp, Alfred — (1812–1887)    Known as the “cannon king,” Alfred Krupp turned the factory inherited from his father, Friedrich Krupp, into the biggest steel conglomerate in the world. Krupp started his early career by selling cutlery producing machines, copying …   Encyclopedia of the Age of Imperialism, 1800–1914

  • KRUPP, ALFRED —    metal and steel founder, born at Essen, where through his father he became the proprietor of a small foundry which grew in his hands into such dimensions as to surpass every other establishment of the kind in the world; the BESSEMER (q.v.… …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

  • Alfred Krupp — (* 26. April 1812 in Essen; † 14. Juli 1887 in Essen, ursprünglich eigentlich Alfried Krupp) war Industrieller und Erfinder. Er baute die von seinem Vater Friedrich Krupp gegründete Kruppsche Gussstahlfabrik, die heute in der ThyssenKrupp AG… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Krupp (Begriffsklärung) — Krupp bezeichnet die deutsche Industriellen Familiendynastie Krupp den Film über die Familie – Krupp – Eine deutsche Familie die Personen Alfred Krupp (1812–1887), ursprünglich eigentlich Alfried Krupp, Industrieller und Erfinder Alfried Krupp… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Krupp [2] — Krupp, Alfred, Industrieller, geb. 26. April 1812 zu Essen, seit 1848 alleiniger Inhaber der von seinem Vater Friedr. K. (geb. 1787, gest. 8. Okt. 1826) 1810 errichteten Gußstahlfabrik, die er zu der bedeutendsten Gußstahlfabrik der Welt erhob;… …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • Alfred Krupp — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Krupp. Alfred Krupp Alfred K …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Krupp-Konzern — ThyssenKrupp AG Unternehmensform Aktiengesellschaft ISIN …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Krupp AG — ▪ German company also known as  Fried. Krupp        former German corporation that was one of the world s principal steelmakers and arms manufacturers until the end of World War II. For the rest of the 20th century it was an important… …   Universalium

  • Krupp: Aufstieg eines erfolgreichen Industriellen und Unternehmens —   »So wie jede Verbindung, jede Körperschaft von der kleinsten Familie an bis zum größten Staat zu ihrem Gedeihen der inneren Einigkeit und Treue bedarf, so ist Gleiches die Grundbedingung der dauernden Wohlfahrt eines gewerblichen Etablissements …   Universal-Lexikon

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”