Albert Einstein
Of all the scientists to emerge from the nineteenth
and twentieth centuries there is one whose name is
known by almost all living people. While most of
these do not understand this man's work,
everyone knows that its impact on the world of
science is astonishing. Yes, many have heard of
Albert Einstein's General Theory of relativity, but
few know about the intriguing life that led this
scientist to discover what some have called, "The
greatest single achievement of human thought."
Einstein was born in Ulm, Germany on March 14,
1874. Before his first birthday, his family had
moved to Munich where young Albert's father,
Hermann Einstein, and uncle set up a small
electro-chemical business. He was fortunate to
have an excellent family with which he held a
strong relationship. Albert's mother, Pauline
Einstein, had an intense passion for music and
literature, and it was she that first introduced her
son to the violin in which he found much joy and
relaxation. Also, he was very close with his
younger sister, Maja, and they could often be
found in the lakes that were scattered about the
countryside near Munich. As a child, Einstein's
sense of curiosity had already begun to stir. A
favorite toy of his was his father's compass, and he
often marvelled at his uncle's explanations of
algebra. Although young Albert was intrigued by
certain mysteries of science, he was considered a
slow learner. His failure to become fluent in
German until the age of nine even led some
teachers to believe he was disabled. Einstein's
post-basic education began at the Luitpold
Gymnasium when he was ten. It was here that he
first encountered the German spirit through the
school's strict disciplinary policy. His disapproval
of this method of teaching led to his reputation as a
rebel. It was probably these differences that
caused Einstein to search for knowledge at home.
He began not with science, but with religion. He
avidly studied the Bible seeking truth, but this
religious fervor soon died down...
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