Albert Einstein: Life, Relativity & Scientific Legacy
Encyclopedia/1. The Cosmos & The Natural World/2. Physics & Chemistry/13. Physical & Chemical Biographies • Curated by Admin Timeline.sg
Biographical timeline of Albert Einstein, covering his birth in Ulm, groundbreaking 1905 Annus Mirabilis papers, development of general relativity, Nobel Prize, emigration to Princeton, and enduring scientific legacy.
Chronological Storyline (38 Milestones)
Mar 14, 1879 CE
Albert Einstein Born in Ulm
Albert Einstein is born in Ulm, in the Kingdom of Württemberg in the German Empire, to Hermann Einstein and Pauline Koch. His family moves to Munich the following year. #physics #science #biography
Albert Einstein Born in Ulm By Orren Jack Turner - This image is available from the United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID cph.3b46036.This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6372844
1884 CE
Einstein Receives a Compass
At age five, Einstein is given a compass by his father, sparking his lifelong fascination with invisible forces and the nature of the universe. #physics #science
1894 CE
Einstein Family Moves to Italy
Einstein's family moves to Pavia, Italy, after his father's business fails. Einstein stays behind in Munich to finish school but soon joins them. #physics #biography
1895 CE
Einstein Fails ETH Zurich Entrance Exam
At age 16, Einstein takes the entrance exam for the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School (ETH Zurich) and fails the general part, but excels in math and physics. #physics #education
Einstein Fails ETH Zurich Entrance Exam By Roland zh - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20484906
1896 CE
Einstein Renounces German Citizenship
Einstein renounces his German citizenship to avoid military service, remaining stateless until he becomes a Swiss citizen in 1901. #physics #biography
1900 CE
Einstein Graduates from ETH Zurich
Einstein graduates from ETH Zurich with a diploma in teaching mathematics and physics. He struggles to find an academic position. #physics #education
1901 CE
Einstein Becomes Swiss Citizen
Einstein is granted Swiss citizenship. He works as a tutor and substitute teacher before securing a job at the Swiss Patent Office. #physics #biography
Jun 23, 1902 CE
Einstein Begins Work at Swiss Patent Office
Einstein starts working as a patent examiner at the Swiss Patent Office in Bern, a job that allows him time to develop his theories. #physics #science
Einstein Begins Work at Swiss Patent Office By WM 1 ipi - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31730674
Jan 6, 1903 CE
Einstein Marries Mileva Marić
Einstein marries his former classmate Mileva Marić, a Serbian physicist. They have two sons, Hans Albert and Eduard. #physics #biography
Einstein Marries Mileva Marić By I am unsure whether PD-old license is correct here, because the photographer's name and date of death is missing. However , assuming it was taken in Switzerland, the image may not be copyrightable, but see also Wikipedia:Media_copyright_questions and Image on wikipedia. Please note http://www.bhm.ch/en/news_04a.cfm?bid=4&jahr=2006 claims reproduction rights, whether they are justified in so claiming I do not know. Here are their words. Einstein photos: Reproduction rights and picture credits Rights to the reproduction of the Einstein photos on our website are granted free of charge if used as part of a report or feature on the Historisches Museum in Bern. Picture credits must, however, be printed. If used in any other connection, reproduction is subject to a fee. The rights must be obtained directly from the picture archive cited for the photo in question. -Wikibob 20:09, 28 April 2008 (UTC) - http://www.bhm.ch/en/news_04a.cfm?bid=4&jahr=2006, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1781347
Mar 17, 1905 CE
Einstein Publishes Photoelectric Effect Paper
Einstein publishes 'On a Heuristic Viewpoint Concerning the Production and Transformation of Light,' proposing that light consists of quanta (photons). This later earns him the Nobel Prize. #physics #quantum
Einstein Publishes Photoelectric Effect Paper By Ponor - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=92684859
May 11, 1905 CE
Einstein Publishes Brownian Motion Paper
Einstein publishes 'On the Motion of Small Particles Suspended in a Stationary Liquid,' providing empirical evidence for atoms and molecules. #physics #atoms
Einstein Publishes Brownian Motion Paper By Toshiyouri - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=69356582
Jun 30, 1905 CE
Einstein Publishes Special Relativity Paper
Einstein publishes 'On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies,' introducing the special theory of relativity and the principle that the speed of light is constant. #physics #relativity
Einstein Publishes Special Relativity Paper By Lucien Chavan [1] (1868 - 1942), a friend of Einstein's when he was living in Berne. - Cropped from original at the The Albert Einstein Archives, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16699199
Sep 27, 1905 CE
Einstein Publishes E=mc² Paper
Einstein publishes 'Does the Inertia of a Body Depend Upon Its Energy Content?' introducing the mass-energy equivalence formula E=mc². #physics #relativity
Einstein Publishes E=mc² Paper By NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA) - HubbleSite: gallery, release., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=102873
1907 CE
Einstein Begins Work on General Relativity
Einstein realizes that the principle of relativity can be extended to accelerated frames, leading to the equivalence principle and the foundation of general relativity. #physics #relativity
Einstein Begins Work on General Relativity By Simulating eXtreme Spacetimes Lensing (SXS) - https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/video/ligo20160211v3 (video link); see also http://www.black-holes.org/gw150914, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=46994894
1908 CE
Einstein Becomes Privatdozent at Bern
Einstein is appointed as a privatdozent (unsalaried lecturer) at the University of Bern, marking his first academic position. #physics #academia
Einstein Becomes Privatdozent at Bern By Universitaetbern - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=133904873
1909 CE
Einstein Appointed Associate Professor at Zurich
Einstein becomes an associate professor of theoretical physics at the University of Zurich, leaving the patent office. #physics #academia
Einstein Appointed Associate Professor at Zurich By Unknown author - http://www.designtagebuch.de/cd-manuals/UZH_CDManual_Basiselemente.pdf, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=92865744
1911 CE
Einstein Moves to Prague
Einstein becomes a full professor at the German University in Prague, where he continues working on general relativity. #physics #academia
Einstein Moves to Prague By WikiWriter123 - Own work, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=80905850
1912 CE
Einstein Returns to ETH Zurich
Einstein returns to ETH Zurich as a professor of theoretical physics, collaborating with mathematician Marcel Grossmann on tensor calculus for general relativity. #physics #relativity
Apr 1, 1914 CE
Einstein Moves to Berlin
Einstein becomes a member of the Prussian Academy of Sciences and a professor at the University of Berlin. He also becomes director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physics. #physics #academia
Einstein Moves to Berlin By Andreas Praefcke - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4008369
Nov 25, 1915 CE
Einstein Completes General Relativity
Einstein presents the final form of the general theory of relativity to the Prussian Academy, explaining gravity as the curvature of spacetime. #physics #relativity
1916 CE
Einstein Publishes 'The Foundation of the General Theory of Relativity'
Einstein publishes a comprehensive paper on general relativity, including the Einstein field equations and predictions such as gravitational time dilation. #physics #relativity
1917 CE
Einstein Introduces Cosmological Constant
Einstein adds a cosmological constant to his field equations to allow for a static universe, later calling it his 'biggest blunder' after the universe's expansion was discovered. #physics #cosmology
Einstein Introduces Cosmological Constant By NASA/WMAP Science Team - Original version: NASA; modified by Cherkash, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11885244
May 29, 1919 CE
Eddington's Eclipse Confirms General Relativity
Arthur Eddington's expedition observes the bending of starlight during a solar eclipse, confirming Einstein's prediction and making him a global celebrity. #physics #relativity
Eddington's Eclipse Confirms General Relativity By ESO/Landessternwarte Heidelberg-Königstuhl/F. W. Dyson, A. S. Eddington, & C. Davidson - https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw1926a/, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=80091497
1921 CE
Einstein Awarded Nobel Prize in Physics
Einstein receives the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics (awarded in 1922) for his explanation of the photoelectric effect, not for relativity. #physics #nobel
Einstein Awarded Nobel Prize in Physics By Photograph: JonathunderMedal: Erik Lindberg (1873-1966) - Derivative of File:NobelPrize.JPG, PD-US, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=58432969
1922 CE
Einstein Travels to Japan and Palestine
Einstein embarks on a lecture tour to Japan, also visiting Palestine, where he is warmly received. He publishes his first paper on unified field theory. #physics #travel
1925 CE
Einstein Receives Copley Medal
Einstein is awarded the Copley Medal by the Royal Society for his contributions to theoretical physics. #physics #award
Einstein Receives Copley Medal By Teresa Stokes - Sir George Gabriel Stokes, Copley gold medal, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=118624561
Oct 1, 1927 CE
Einstein at Solvay Conference
Einstein participates in the fifth Solvay Conference, engaging in debates with Niels Bohr over quantum mechanics, famously stating 'God does not play dice.' #physics #quantum
Einstein at Solvay Conference By Benjamin Couprie, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=227787
1930 CE
Einstein and the Unified Field Theory
Einstein begins his quest for a unified field theory, attempting to unify electromagnetism and gravity, a pursuit that continues for the rest of his life. #physics #unification
Jan 30, 1933 CE
Hitler Becomes Chancellor; Einstein Decides Not to Return to Germany
Adolf Hitler's rise to power prompts Einstein, who is in the US, to renounce his German citizenship and never return to Germany. #physics #history
Hitler Becomes Chancellor; Einstein Decides Not to Return to Germany By Heinrich Hoffmann - This is a retouched picture, which means that it has been digitally altered from its original version. Modifications: 3:4 portrait crop, some dust and scratches removed, contrast/brightness changed. The original can be viewed here: Bundesarchiv Bild 183-H1216-0500-002, Adolf Hitler.jpg: . Modifications made by Notwist., CC BY-SA 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=178545364
Oct 17, 1933 CE
Einstein Arrives in Princeton
Einstein emigrates to the United States and joins the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, where he remains for the rest of his life. #physics #academia
Aug 2, 1939 CE
Einstein Signs Letter to Roosevelt
Einstein signs a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, warning of the potential for Nazi Germany to develop atomic weapons and urging US research. #physics #history
Einstein Signs Letter to Roosevelt By Albert Einstein - Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum 4079 Albany Post Road Hyde Park, NY 12538 http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/psf/box5/a64a01.htmlhttp://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/psf/box5/a64a02.html, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2679498
Oct 1, 1940 CE
Einstein Becomes US Citizen
Einstein becomes a citizen of the United States, while retaining his Swiss citizenship. #physics #biography
Aug 6, 1945 CE
Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima
The US drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Einstein later expresses regret for his role in the letter to Roosevelt, saying 'I made one great mistake in my life.' #physics #history
Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima By George R. Caron / Charles Levy - Nagasakibomb.jpg Atomic_cloud_over_Hiroshima.jpg, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12204929
1946 CE
Einstein Becomes Chair of Emergency Committee of Atomic Scientists
Einstein chairs the Emergency Committee of Atomic Scientists, advocating for nuclear disarmament and world peace. #physics #peace
1950 CE
Einstein Publishes 'The Meaning of Relativity'
Einstein publishes the expanded edition of 'The Meaning of Relativity,' his classic account of special and general relativity. #physics #books
Einstein Publishes 'The Meaning of Relativity' By Albert Einstein - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Meaning_of_Relativity_-_Albert_Einstein_(1922).djvu, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=96821575
Nov 1, 1952 CE
Einstein Declines Presidency of Israel
Einstein is offered the presidency of Israel but declines, stating he lacks the necessary people skills. #physics #biography
Apr 18, 1955 CE
Albert Einstein Dies in Princeton
Einstein dies at age 76 at Princeton Hospital from an abdominal aortic aneurysm. His brain is removed for study, and his body is cremated. #physics #science
1955 CE
Einstein's Legacy: Nuclear Age and Beyond
Einstein's theories continue to shape modern physics, from GPS corrections to gravitational wave detection. His name becomes synonymous with genius. #physics #legacy
