Born March 14, 1879 in Ulm, Germany.
Died April 18, 1955 in Princeton, New Jersey.

Although he is regarded as one of the most brilliant mathematical physicists of the century,
Einstein thought of himself as much as a philosopher as a scientist.
Certainly his theories relating matter, energy, space, time, and gravity have guided much
of the work in theoretical physics since 1905. His famous "thought experiments" based
on intuition and imagination rather than laboratory work, propelled us into a relativistic universe.

Einstein’s college record as an unenthusiastic student is well known. His independence
and questioning of authority may have prevented him from landing an entry level
academic position upon graduation in 1900 with a degree in physics.

His early post graduate years were spent teaching mathematics and working in a patent office.
While in the Bern patent office Einstein wrote an astonishing range of theoretical physics publications,
written in his spare time without the benefit of close contact with scientific literature or colleagues. And by by 1905 Einstein had realized his ambition and earned a doctorate from the University of Zurich.

In 1905 at the age of 26 he developed the most famous relationship in physics, E=mc2. This is considered to be "Annus Mirabilis", or Einstein’s "Miracle Year" for the many scientific papers
that he published in that period.

Despite his unpromising start Einstein changed the world through the power of his
unconventional imagination.

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art
and science."