Slavoljub Penkala

Eduard Slavoljub Penkala was born on April 20, 1871, in Liptovský Mikuláš. After earning degrees in chemistry from the Dresden Polytechnic and Royal Saxon Polytechnic, Penkala moved to Zagreb in 1900, embracing Croatian identity and adding the Slavic name Slavoljub.

In 1906, he patented the world's first automatic mechanical pencil, followed in 1907 by the fountain pen with solid ink. Exported to over seventy countries, the 'Penkala' became a global household name. He held over eighty patents, including hot-water bottles, rail brakes, and designed Croatia's first motor airplane in 1910.