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Albert Einstein Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 5, 2026 • 3 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth14 March 1879

AgeDeceased (died 18 April 1955)

BirthplaceUlm, Kingdom of Württemberg, German Empire

ProfessionTheoretical physicist

NationalityGerman, Swiss, American

Marital statusDivorced

SpouseMileva Marić (1903–1919), Elsa Löwenthal (1919–1936)

FamilyFather - Hermann Einstein; Mother - Pauline Koch; Sister - Maja Einstein

Albert Einstein Biography

Albert Einstein was a theoretical physicist whose work reshaped modern physics. Born in 1879 in Ulm, he earned a Ph.D. in 1905 and received the Nobel Prize

Early life and background

Albert Einstein was born on 14 March 1879 in Ulm, in what was then the Kingdom of Württemberg within the German Empire. He grew up in a middle-class Jewish family and had one sibling, a younger sister named Maja. His parents were Hermann Einstein and Pauline Koch. As a child he experienced a slow start in speech and later had periods of difficulty with formal schooling. He attended a Catholic elementary school and the Luitpold Gymnasium in Munich before moving on to higher education in Switzerland.

Education

Einstein enrolled at the Swiss Federal Polytechnic in Zürich and later completed further study at the University of Zurich. He earned a B.A. in 1900 and completed his doctoral degree in 1905 with a dissertation titled A New Determination of Molecular Dimensions. His doctoral advisor was Alfred Kleiner. During his late teens he took the entrance exam for the Swiss Polytechnic; he showed strong ability in physics and mathematics even though he did not pass every portion of the general exam.

Career

Einstein established himself as a theoretical physicist and thinker whose work crossed the boundaries between physics and philosophy. He published early research on topics including the aether and electromagnetic theory and developed ideas that led to his formulation of relativity. In 1921 he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his explanation of the photoelectric effect, rather than for relativity. Over the course of his career he received numerous honors: the Barnard Medal (1920), the Matteucci Medal (1921), election as a Foreign Member of the Royal Society (ForMemRS) in 1921, the Copley Medal (1925), the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society (1926), and the Max Planck Medal (1929). In 1999 he was named Time Person of the Century.

Personal life and family

Einstein married twice. His first marriage was to Mileva Marić, which lasted from 1903 until their divorce in 1919. He later married Elsa Löwenthal. He had three children: a daughter, Lieserl (born 1902), and two sons, Hans Albert (born 1904) and Eduard, nicknamed Tete (born 1910). His nationality changed during his life: he renounced his German citizenship in 1896 and later held German, Swiss and American nationalities. He emigrated to the United States in 1940 and became a U.S. citizen.

Public profile

Einstein was known for interests beyond physics: he enjoyed sailing and music, and played the violin and piano. He read widely — among his favorite books were Don Quixote and The Brothers Karamazov — and admired composers such as Mozart. He was also noted for certain personal habits and preferences, for example a fondness for pipe smoking. His religious views have been described as pantheistic.

Later years and death

In the United States Einstein continued to be an active public intellectual. In 1952 he was reportedly offered the presidency of the state of Israel, an offer he declined. He died in Princeton, New Jersey, on 18 April 1955. The cause of death was internal bleeding resulting from the rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Legacy

Einstein's work left a lasting imprint on physics and the wider culture. His scientific achievements and public persona brought him numerous awards during his lifetime and enduring recognition after his death.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Albert Einstein, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded
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Recent Work

Photoelectric effect work (recognized by Nobel Prize)

Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the photoelectric effect.

1921
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Career Highlights

  1. Ph.D. (1905) with dissertation A New Determination of Molecular Dimensions
  2. Nobel Prize in Physics (1921) for the photoelectric effect
  3. Barnard Medal (1920)
  4. Copley Medal (1925)
  5. Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society (1926)
  6. Max Planck Medal (1929)
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Albert Einstein born?

Albert Einstein was born on 14 March 1879.

What is Albert Einstein known for?

Albert Einstein is known for theoretical physicist.

What is Albert Einstein’s marital status?

Albert Einstein's marital status is listed as Divorced.

Who is Albert Einstein married to?

Albert Einstein is publicly listed as married to Mileva Marić (1903–1919), Elsa Löwenthal (1919–1936).