Karl Friedrich Benz was an automobile engineer, engine designer, and entrepreneur from Germany who is remembered for designing the first practical automobile in history, Benz Patent Motorcar. He obtained a patent for it in 1886. A Mühlburg native, Benz grew up in an impoverished family after losing his father when he was quite young. Despite this, his mother made sure that he received a proper education. In 1864, he obtained a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Karlsruhe. Benz subsequently spent seven years acquiring professional training in various companies. In 1871, he co-founded his first factory, the Iron Foundry and Mechanical Workshop in Mannheim, which was later rebranded as Factory for Machines for Sheet-metal Working. During this period, he began developing his early inventions. In 1883, he established the Benz & Cie. to create stationary internal-combustion engines. Following the success of the three-wheeled vehicle, the Motorwagen, the company developed its first four-wheeled car in 1893 and the first of a series of racing cars in 1899. In 1906, Karl founded C. Benz Söhne with his wife and sons. The Benz company united with Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft to create Daimler-Benz, producer of Mercedes-Benz automobiles, in 1926.