# Felix Wankel

> German mechanical engineer, inventor of the Wankel engine (1902-1988)

**Wikidata**: [Q77097](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q77097)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felix_Wankel)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/felix-wankel

## Summary
Felix Wankel was a German mechanical engineer and inventor, best known for the invention of the Wankel engine. Active during the 20th century (1902–1988), he is recognized for his contributions to rotary engine technology.

## Biography
- **Born**: August 13, 1902
- **Died**: October 9, 1988
- **Nationality**: Germany
- **Known for**: Inventing the Wankel engine
- **Field(s)**: Mechanical engineering
- **Occupation**: Mechanical engineer, Inventor, Politician

## Contributions
Felix Wankel is the inventor of the Wankel engine, a type of internal combustion engine notable for its rotary design. While specific patents or technical papers are not detailed in the provided source, his primary contribution remains the development and conceptualization of this rotary engine technology.

## FAQs
### What is Felix Wankel famous for?
Felix Wankel is famous for inventing the Wankel engine, a rotary internal combustion engine.

### What was Felix Wankel's nationality?
Felix Wankel was German.

### Did Felix Wankel receive any awards?
Yes, Felix Wankel received the Bavarian Order of Merit and the John Price Wetherill Medal for his work.

### Was Felix Wankel involved in politics?
Yes, source material lists his occupation as a politician in addition to being an engineer and inventor.

## Why They Matter
Felix Wankel matters significantly to the field of mechanical engineering due to his invention of the rotary engine, which offered a distinct alternative to traditional piston engines. His work influenced automotive engineering and various industrial applications. His legacy is also noted through the "Felix Wankel Animal Welfare Research Award," indicating a broader impact or interest extending into animal welfare research.

## Notable For
- **Invention of the Wankel Engine**: A revolutionary type of rotary internal combustion engine.
- **Bavarian Order of Merit**: Recipient of this prestigious German award.
- **John Price Wetherill Medal**: Recipient of this American award for discovery or innovation in the physical sciences.
- **Felix Wankel Animal Welfare Research Award**: An award named in his honor, associated with Germany.

## Body
### Early Life and Personal Details
Felix Heinrich Wankel was born on August 13, 1902. He passed away on October 9, 1988. He was a citizen of Germany.

### Career and Affiliations
Wankel pursued a career as a mechanical engineer and inventor. His professional identity also included work as a politician. Throughout his life, he was associated with specific groups, though the source material only specifies his membership in entities identified as Q44687 and Q469210.

### Historical and Political Context
The source material places Wankel's life within the context of significant German political history. He was associated with the **Schutzstaffel (SS)**, a Nazi paramilitary organization active from 1925 to 1945. Additionally, he was a member of the **Deutschvölkischer Schutz und Trutzbbund**, a nationalist and antisemitic federation in Germany established in 1919, which was the largest of its kind after World War I.

### Awards and Recognition
Felix Wankel received notable recognition for his engineering achievements. He was a recipient of the **Bavarian Order of Merit** (Order of Merit of the Free State of Bavaria), established in 1957. He also received the **John Price Wetherill Medal**, an American award administered for discovery or innovation in the physical sciences, instituted in 1925.

### Legacy
Wankel's name continues through the **Felix Wankel Animal Welfare Research Award**, an entity referenced in the source material with a connection to Germany. His burial site is recorded at Grab.JPG. His contributions are documented across various biographical identifiers including ISNI, VIAF, and Wikipedia.

## References

1. Enciclopedia universal ilustrada europeo-americana
2. Integrated Authority File
3. Find a Grave
4. [Source](https://fi.edu/en/awards/laureates/felix-wankel)
5. International Standard Name Identifier
6. Virtual International Authority File
7. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
8. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
9. Munzinger Personen
10. Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana
11. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013