Science · 1879–1955
Albert Einstein Life & Career Timeline
Ideas that changed our understanding of space and time.
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About this timeline
About Albert Einstein
Education, thought experiments, relativity, exile and a public life that made a theoretical physicist a worldwide symbol of genius.
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Albert Einstein biography
Albert Einstein timeline: key events
Explore 18 documented Moments in chronological order. Read the dates, locations and source references below. Where available, additional context explains why a milestone matters.
Born in Ulm
Albert Einstein was born into a secular Jewish family.
Source: www.britannica.comEnters Zürich Polytechnic
Einstein studied to become a teacher of physics and mathematics.
Source: www.britannica.comBecomes a Swiss citizen
Switzerland became the stable home of his early adult life.
Source: www.britannica.comPatent office
Work as a patent examiner left time for independent thinking about physics.
Source: www.britannica.comAnnus mirabilis
Four papers transformed understanding of light, atoms, motion, space and time.
Source: www.britannica.comE = mc²
A short paper expressed the equivalence of mass and energy.
Source: www.britannica.comSpecial relativity paper is submitted
Einstein’s paper on the electrodynamics of moving bodies removed the need for a luminiferous ether and reshaped ideas of space and time.
Source: einsteinpapers.press.princeton.eduAcademic career begins
Einstein left the patent office for a university post.
Source: www.britannica.comGeneral relativity
He completed a new theory describing gravity as curved spacetime.
Source: www.britannica.comPresents the field equations of general relativity
Einstein completed equations describing gravity as the curvature of spacetime.
Source: einsteinpapers.press.princeton.eduEclipse confirms prediction
Observations of starlight during an eclipse made Einstein internationally famous.
Source: www.britannica.comEclipse observations support relativity
Expeditions measured starlight bending near the Sun, making Einstein internationally famous.
Source: royalsocietypublishing.orgNobel Prize in Physics
He received the prize for explaining the photoelectric effect.
Source: www.britannica.comDebates quantum theory at the Solvay Conference
Einstein and Niels Bohr became central voices in foundational discussions of quantum mechanics.
Connected: Niels Bohr
Source: www.solvayinstitutes.beLeaves Nazi Germany
Einstein renounced German citizenship and settled in the United States.
Source: www.britannica.comLetter to Roosevelt
He warned that nuclear chain reactions might enable powerful weapons.
Source: www.britannica.comBecomes a U.S. citizen
Einstein retained Swiss citizenship while becoming American.
Source: www.britannica.comDeath in Princeton
Einstein died while still working toward a unified theory.
Source: www.britannica.comExplore related timelines
This educational timeline is not endorsed by or affiliated with Albert Einstein or their representatives. Event text is original editorial copy based on the linked sources.
Photo: Oren Jack Turner / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
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About the Albert Einstein timeline
Who is Albert Einstein?
Education, thought experiments, relativity, exile and a public life that made a theoretical physicist a worldwide symbol of genius.
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This public timeline currently contains 18 sourced moments spanning 1879–1955.
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