Nicolaus Otto

Nicolaus Otto
Nicolaus August Otto circa 1868
Born
Nicolaus August Otto

(1832-06-10)10 June 1832
Died26 January 1891(1891-01-26) (aged 58)
OccupationEngineer
Known forInternal combustion engine
Founder of Deutz AG
TitleDr. h.c.
SpouseAnna Gossi
Childrene.g. Gustav Otto

Nicolaus August Otto (10 June 1832 – 26 January 1891) was a German engineer who successfully developed the compressed charge internal combustion engine which ran on petroleum gas and led to the modern internal combustion engine. The Association of German Engineers (VDI) created DIN standard 1940 which says "Otto Engine: internal combustion engine in which the ignition of the compressed fuel-air mixture is initiated by a timed spark", which has been applied to all engines of this type since.