Contents
Albert Einstein
Developing the theory of relativity.
E = mc² · The photoelectric effect
- Born
- 14 March 1879
- Birthplace
- Ulm, Germany
- Died
- 18 April 1955
More people
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein was a theoretical physicist whose work changed how scientists describe space, time, and gravity. He developed special and general relativity and also made major contributions to quantum physics.
Early life
A European childhood
Born in Ulm, grew up in Munich, and continued his education in Switzerland.
Physics and mathematics
Entered the Swiss Federal Polytechnic in Zurich in 1896.
Career
- 1902–1909
Patent examiner
Worked at the Swiss patent office in Bern while pursuing physics.
- 1909–1913
University posts
Moved into academic positions in Zurich and Prague.
- 1914
Berlin researcher
Joined Berlin’s scientific establishment to focus on research.
- 1933–1955
Institute for Advanced Study
Worked in Princeton for the remainder of his life.
Contributions
Special relativity
A new description of space and time.
Photoelectric effect
An explanation of how light can release electrons from matter.
General relativity
A theory describing gravity through the geometry of spacetime.
Beyond physics
Family
Married Mileva Marić in 1903; after their divorce, married Elsa Löwenthal in 1919.
Leaving Germany
Settled in the United States in 1933 after the Nazis came to power.
Declining a presidency
When offered to become the President of Israel in 1952, he refused.
Sources & photo credit
Biography ↗Nobel Prize ↗Patent-office career ↗Life and family ↗Institute for Advanced Study ↗1952 presidency invitation and reply ↗Photo: Oren Jack Turner. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
