Godtfred Kirk Christiansen

Godtfred Kirk Christiansen was born on July 8, 1920, in Billund, the third son of Lego founder Ole Kirk Christiansen. Starting work in his father's workshop at age twelve, he became junior director in 1950 and managing director in 1957.

Godtfred realized that individual toys had limited appeal, conceiving instead the LEGO System of Play—an open-ended, universally compatible system where every brick connects with every other brick. On January 28, 1958, at 1:58 PM, he filed the historic patent for the hollow stud-and-tube coupling mechanism that gave Lego bricks their perfect 'clutch power'. In 1968, he opened the first Legoland theme park in Billund, transforming Lego into the world's most beloved toy enterprise.