Albert Einstein

He developed several important physical theories: Einstein published more than 300 scientific papers along with over 150 non-scientific works, and received honorary doctorate degrees in science, medicine and philosophy from many European and American universities.

Albert Einstein was born in the German Empire on 14 March 1879 His father was Hermann Einstein, a salesman and engineer. His mother was Pauline Einstein In 1894, his father's company failed. In search of business, the Einstein family moved to Italy, first to Milan and then, a few months later, to Pavia. Einstein at the age of 4

Albert Einstein in 1893 In the spring of 1895, he withdrew to join his family in Pavia, convincing the school to let him go by using a doctor's note. In 1896 he enrolled in the four year mathematics and physics teaching diploma program at the Polytechnic in Zurich.

On 30 April 1905, he completed his thesis, with Alfred Kleiner, Professor of Experimental Physics, serving as pro-forma advisor. Einstein was awarded a PhD by the University of Zurich. His dissertation was entitled "A New Determination of Molecular Dimensions" Alfred Kleiner Albert Einstein

By 1908, he was recognized as a leading scientist, and he was appointed lecturer at the University of Berne. In 1911, he had calculated that, based on his new theory of general relativity, light from another star would be bent by the Sun's gravity. In 1921, Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics.

In 1922, he traveled throughout Asia and later to Palestine, as part of a six-month excursion and speaking tour. Einstein visited New York City for the first time on 2 April 1921, where he received an official welcome by the Mayor, followed by three weeks of lectures and receptions.

A Jew, and a pacifist, he was attacked by the Nazis, and when Hitler came to power in 1933 he decided to settle in the United States. In 1939 Albert Einstein wrote a letter to President Roosevelt, at the request of several prominent physicists, outlining the military potential of nuclear energy and the dangers of a Nazi lead in this field. His letter greatly influenced the decision to build an atomic bomb, though he took no part in the Manhattan Project. After the war he spoke out passionately against nuclear weapons and repression. Einstein died in 1955. The artificial element einsteinium has been named in his honour.