Siegfried Marcus was a German-born inventor who played a pioneering role in the development of the internal combustion engine. In the 1860s, he began experimenting with gasoline-powered engines, and by 1864, he built a prototype using a handcart and a simple engine fueled by liquid hydrocarbons. Around 1870, Marcus built a more advanced vehicle, often referred to as the "Marcus car," which is considered one of the earliest gasoline-powered automobiles. This vehicle featured innovations such as a magneto ignition system, which would become a standard in automotive engineering. Due to being a Jew, much of his work was removed due to the Nazi efforts which attempted to write Jewish accomplishments out of history. Siegfried Marcus passed away on June 30, 1898.