Albert Einstein
- Born:
- March 14, 1879, Ulm, Württemberg, Germany
- Died:
- April 18, 1955, Princeton, New Jersey, United States
- Nationality:
- German (1879–1896), Stateless (1896–1901), Swiss (1901–1955), German (1914–1918), American (1940–1955)
- Profession(s):
- Theoretical Physicist, Mathematician
Early Life and Education
- Early education at Luitpold Gymnasium in Munich.
- Relocated to Italy in 1894 after his father's business failed.
- Completed high school in Aarau, Switzerland.
- Graduated from the Swiss Federal Polytechnic in Zurich in 1900 with a degree in physics.
Career and Major Achievements
- Worked at the Swiss Patent Office in Bern from 1902 to 1909.
- Published his "Annus Mirabilis" papers in 1905, revolutionizing physics.
- Developed the theory of relativity, including special and general relativity.
- Professor at the University of Zurich, Charles University in Prague, and ETH Zurich.
- Director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physics in Berlin.
- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the photoelectric effect.
- Emigrated to the United States in 1933 and became a professor at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton.
- Wrote a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939, warning of the potential for Nazi Germany to develop atomic weapons.
Notable Works
- 1905: "On a Heuristic Viewpoint Concerning the Production and Transformation of Light" (Photoelectric Effect)
- 1905: "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies" (Special Relativity)
- 1905: "Does the Inertia of a Body Depend Upon Its Energy Content?" (E=mc²)
- 1916: "The Foundation of the General Theory of Relativity"
Legacy and Impact
Albert Einstein's theories of relativity revolutionized our understanding of space, time, gravity, and the universe. His work laid the foundation for modern physics and cosmology, and his name has become synonymous with genius.
Awards and Recognition
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| Nobel Prize in Physics | 1921 |
| Copley Medal | 1925 |
| Max Planck Medal | 1929 |
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