Albert Einstein

Born to Hermann and Pauline Einstein, a secular Jewish family. The family moved to Munich the following year.

Renounced his German citizenship and enrolled at the Swiss Federal Polytechnic to train as a physics and mathematics teacher.

Earned his teaching diploma but struggled to secure an academic post in the years that followed.

Took a position as a technical examiner third class, which gave him time to pursue theoretical physics.

Married his former fellow student; the couple would have sons Hans Albert and Eduard.

Published works on the photoelectric effect, Brownian motion, special relativity, and mass-energy equivalence (E=mc²).

Received his PhD from the University of Zurich for his dissertation on the dimensions of molecules.

Appointed to the Prussian Academy of Sciences and director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physics.

Presented the final field equations of his general theory of relativity to the Prussian Academy.

Eddington's measurements of starlight bending during a solar eclipse confirmed general relativity, making Einstein world-famous.

Married his cousin Elsa, having divorced Mileva Marić earlier that year.

Received the 1921 Nobel Prize, awarded in 1922, chiefly for his explanation of the photoelectric effect.

Renounced German citizenship and emigrated to the United States, joining the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton.

Signed a letter to President Roosevelt warning of possible German atomic weapons, helping prompt the Manhattan Project.

Sworn in as an American citizen while retaining his Swiss citizenship.

Chaired the Emergency Committee of Atomic Scientists, campaigning for peace, civil rights, and world government.

Offered the largely ceremonial post of President of Israel after Chaim Weizmann's death, which he respectfully declined.

Co-signed a final public appeal warning of the dangers of nuclear weapons, released days after his death.

Died of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm at age 76, having refused surgery.