Relativistic Cosmology
Applies general relativity to the universe and introduces the cosmological constant in a static cosmological model.
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Albert Einstein Biography and Timeline — Page 3
Follow Albert Einstein through 240 dated historical records for United States of America.
Albert Einstein, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
240Distinct records
3 of 6Page
1917–1923Years on this page
1917
Repulsive Gravity in Empty Space
Einstein interprets the cosmological constant as a repulsive contribution capable of balancing ordinary gravitational attraction on the largest cosmic scales.
Kaiser Wilhelm Institute Directorship
Becomes founding director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physics.
Stimulated Emission
Formulates stimulated emission in his quantum theory of radiation, a principle later fundamental to lasers.
1918
Quadrupole Formula for Gravitational Waves
Refines gravitational-wave theory and derives the quadrupole form for radiated energy.
Mach Principle Formulation
Publishes a foundational discussion of general relativity in which he explicitly names Mach's principle and distinguishes it from the equivalence and relativity principles.
Quadrupole Radiation Formula
Derives the quadrupole formula for gravitational radiation, relating emitted wave power to changing mass distributions in accelerating systems.
Quadrupole Radiation Formula
Einstein derives the quadrupole formula for gravitational radiation, relating emitted wave power to the changing mass distribution of an accelerating source.
Zurich Guest Lectures
Returns to Zurich for guest lectures while continuing work on relativity and quantum theory.
1919
Solar Eclipse Relativity Test
British eclipse expeditions photograph stars near the Sun to test Einstein's predicted gravitational deflection.
Total Eclipse Relativity Test
The total solar eclipse provides observations designed to test the bending of starlight predicted by Einstein's general theory of relativity.
Relativity Eclipse Results Announced
Royal Society and Royal Astronomical Society report eclipse results supporting Einstein's general relativity.
The Times Relativity Explanation
Publishes an accessible explanation of relativity in The Times, describing the conceptual differences between the special and general theories for a broad audience.
International Scientific Fame
Becomes internationally famous after eclipse observations are widely reported as confirming general relativity.
1920
Ether and Relativity Lecture
Delivers the lecture Ether and the Theory of Relativity, redefining the concept in gravitational terms.
Ether and Relativity Leiden Address
Delivers his Leiden inaugural lecture on ether and relativity, arguing that general relativity permits a physical spacetime structure without a mechanical luminiferous ether.
Bad Nauheim Relativity Debate
Publicly debates critics including Philipp Lenard at the German scientists' meeting in Bad Nauheim, defending the physical basis and interpretation of relativity.
Leiden Special Professorship
Begins official duties as special professor at Leiden University.
Anti-Relativity Campaign
Publicly confronts organized attacks on relativity amid growing political and antisemitic hostility.
1921
Geometry and Experience Lecture
Explains how geometry acquires physical meaning through measurement and discusses the relationship between mathematical geometry and the spacetime structure of general relativity.
First Arrival in New York
Arrives in New York during his first visit to the United States, including lectures and fundraising.
Royal Society Foreign Membership
Elected a Foreign Member of the Royal Society.
Manchester Honorary Doctorate and Relativity Lecture
Receives an honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of Manchester and lectures on relativity.
General Relativity Foundation Supplement
Publishes a proposed addition to the foundations of general relativity, continuing his effort to strengthen the conceptual and mathematical basis of gravitational field theory.
Hebrew University Fundraising Tour
Uses his first American visit to support fundraising for the future Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Nobel Prize in Physics
Awarded the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics for theoretical physics, especially the law of the photoelectric effect.
Nobel Prize
Receives the Nobel Prize in Physics for contributions to theoretical physics, particularly his explanation of the law governing the photoelectric effect.
Princeton Stafford Little Lectures
Delivers four Stafford Little Lectures explaining special and general relativity.
1922
Einstein-Bergson Time Debate
Debates Henri Bergson over the meaning of time, confronting philosophical objections to the operational treatment of simultaneity in special relativity.
Paris Relativity Lecture Series
Presents relativity to French scientific audiences during a highly publicised Paris visit, explaining both the special theory and the geometric theory of gravitation.
Wallal Eclipse Relativity Test
A total solar eclipse expedition at Wallal obtains measurements of gravitational light deflection that provide another observational test of Einstein's relativity prediction.
Kyoto Relativity Lecture
Explains how he developed the theory of relativity in a lecture at Kyoto University.
Early Unified Field Program
Begins sustained attempts to combine gravitation and electromagnetism within a single field framework.
Japan Lecture Tour
Travels through Japan giving lectures and public talks on relativity and modern physics.
The Meaning of Relativity Published
Publishes The Meaning of Relativity from his Princeton lectures, giving a systematic account of special relativity, tensor methods, gravitation and cosmological applications.
The Meaning of Relativity
The Meaning of Relativity is published from the four lectures Einstein delivered at Princeton in May 1921.
1923
Jerusalem Relativity Lecture
Lectures in French on relativity during his visit to British Mandate Palestine.
Jerusalem German Lecture
Gives a second Jerusalem lecture on relativity, this time in German.
Barcelona Relativity Lectures
Begins his Spanish visit with lectures in Barcelona, presenting relativity to scientists and helping stimulate wider discussion of modern theoretical physics in Spain.
Madrid Academy Corresponding Membership
Becomes a corresponding member of the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences in Madrid.
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.