German man Rudolf Diesel was an inventor with numerous patents, most famous for inventing the diesel engine which was significantly more fuel-efficient than previous engines. Diesel died in 1913 in the English Channel. He had been traveling to England on a steamer, and in England planned to meet with representatives of the British Royal Navy to discuss the possibility of powering British submarines by Diesel engine. Diesel retired to his cabin one night and disappeared. His body was discovered floating in the sea ten days later.
There is serious speculation that he was murdered – World War I was about to break out and all the major European powers were trying to prevent each other from gaining military advantages. And Diesel had refused to give Germany exclusive use of the new diesel engine.
But there was evidence suggesting suicide as well. He had left his wife a bag with instructions not to open it until the next week, which contained a large amount of cash and financial documents indicating their bank accounts were nearly empty. He also wrote a cross in his diary for the day that he disappeared.
Diesel’s death has never been conclusively proven to be murder or suicide.
