March 18 Biodiesel Day
Rudolf Christian Karl Diesel, German inventor and mechanical engineer, was born on March 18, 1858 and was last seen alive September 29, 1913.
He originally designed the diesel engine in the late 19th Century to run on peanut oil. Only later did petroleum become the standard.
Diesel, who was sympathetic to Allied ideals, boarded the steamer Dresden in Antwerp on his way to a meeting of the Consolidated Diesel Manufacturing company in London.
After eating dinner, he retired to his cabin about 10 p.m. and left word for him to be called the next morning at 6:15 a.m.. He was never seen alive again. Ten days later, the corpse of a man was found floating in the sea with a pill case, wallet, eyeglass case, etc. in the clothing.
On 13 October these items were identified by Rudolf’s son, Eugene Diesel, as belonging to his father.