The engine that bears his name set off a new chapter in the Industrial Revolution, but German engineer Rudolf Diesel (1858–1913), who grew up in France, initially thought his invention would help small businesses and artisans, not industrialists. In truth, diesel engines are commonplace in vehicles of all types, especially those that have to pull heavy loads (trucks or trains) or do a lot of work, such as on a farm or in a power plant.
For this one improvement to an engine, his impact on the world is clear today. But his death more than a century ago remains a mystery.
