Physicist timeline

Albert Einstein Physics Timeline

This static page gathers the Physics records in the database for Albert Einstein.

121 records1879–1955

Albert Einstein in the Physics archive

This static timeline brings together 121 physics records for Albert Einstein, spanning 1879–1955. The records connect the physicist with events including Birth of Albert Einstein, Swiss Citizenship, Capillarity Paper, Swiss Patent Office Appointment, Statistical Mechanics Paper I, Foundations of Thermodynamics.

Locations and countries represented in this timeline include Germany, Switzerland, United States of America. Use the chronological table below to follow the sequence of research, discoveries, appointments and related events.

Continue with the Physicists A–Z index, Physics topic timelines, or the complete Physics search.

Physics records

Date	Person	Event	Place	Description
14 March 1879	Albert Einstein	Birth of Albert Einstein	Ulm, Germany	Albert Einstein is born in Ulm, Württemberg, Germany.
21 February 1901	Albert Einstein Physicist	Swiss Citizenship	Zurich, Switzerland	Einstein becomes a Swiss citizen after having been stateless since 1896.
1901	Albert Einstein Physicist	Capillarity Paper	Zurich, Switzerland	Publishes his first scientific paper, examining molecular forces through capillary phenomena.
19 June 1902	Albert Einstein Physicist	Swiss Patent Office Appointment	Bern, Switzerland	Appointed Technical Expert, third class, at the Swiss Patent Office in Bern.
1902	Albert Einstein Physicist	Statistical Mechanics Paper I	Bern, Switzerland	Publishes an early paper developing the kinetic theory of thermal equilibrium using statistical methods.
1903	Albert Einstein Physicist	Foundations of Thermodynamics	Bern, Switzerland	Publishes further work on the foundations of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics.
1904	Albert Einstein Physicist	Radiation Energy Fluctuations	Bern, Switzerland	Studies fluctuations in radiation energy, an important precursor to his later quantum work.
17 March 1905	Albert Einstein Physicist	Photoelectric Effect Paper Submitted	Bern, Switzerland	Sends his light-quantum paper to Annalen der Physik, using quanta to explain the photoelectric effect.
30 April 1905	Albert Einstein Physicist	Doctoral Dissertation Submitted	Zurich, Switzerland	Submits A New Determination of Molecular Dimensions as his doctoral dissertation at the University of Zurich.
11 May 1905	Albert Einstein Physicist	Brownian Motion Paper Received	Bern, Switzerland	Annalen der Physik receives Einstein's paper explaining Brownian motion through molecular collisions.
30 June 1905	Albert Einstein Physicist	Special Relativity	Bern, Switzerland	Submits On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies, establishing the special theory of relativity.
27 July 1905	Albert Einstein Physicist	Doctorate Approved	Zurich, Switzerland	The University of Zurich faculty unanimously approves Einstein's doctoral dissertation.
27 September 1905	Albert Einstein Physicist	Mass-Energy Equivalence	Bern, Switzerland	Submits the paper deriving the relation between mass and energy from special relativity.
1905	Albert Einstein Physicist	Photoelectric Quantum Explanation	Bern, Switzerland	Explains photoelectric emission by proposing that light transfers energy in discrete quanta to electrons.
15 January 1906	Albert Einstein Physicist	Doctorate Formally Awarded	Zurich, Switzerland	The University of Zurich formally awards Einstein his doctorate in physics.
8 February 1906	Albert Einstein Physicist	Molecular Dimensions Paper Published	Bern, Switzerland	His revised dissertation on molecular dimensions is published in Annalen der Physik.
8 February 1906	Albert Einstein Physicist	Second Brownian Motion Paper Published	Bern, Switzerland	Publishes a follow-up analysis refining his theory of Brownian motion.
April 1906	Albert Einstein Physicist	Patent Office Promotion	Bern, Switzerland	Promoted to Technical Expert, second class, at the Swiss Patent Office.
1906	Albert Einstein Physicist	Light Production and Absorption Paper	Bern, Switzerland	Publishes work extending the light-quantum hypothesis to the production and absorption of radiation.
1907	Albert Einstein Physicist	Equivalence Principle	Bern, Switzerland	Formulates the equivalence principle, a decisive step toward a relativistic theory of gravitation.
1907	Albert Einstein Physicist	Quantum Theory of Specific Heat	Bern, Switzerland	Applies quantum ideas to the specific heat of solids, an early success of quantum theory.
1908	Albert Einstein Physicist	Privatdozent at Bern	Bern, Switzerland	Begins teaching at the University of Bern as a Privatdozent.
July 1909	Albert Einstein Physicist	University of Geneva Honorary Doctorate	Geneva, Switzerland	Receives his first honorary doctorate, awarded by the University of Geneva.
2 December 1909	Albert Einstein Physicist	Zurich Physical Society Membership	Zurich, Switzerland	Becomes a member of the Physical Society of Zurich.
1909	Albert Einstein Physicist	Salzburg Quantum Lecture	Salzburg, Switzerland	Presents a major lecture arguing that radiation displays both wave-like and particle-like properties.
1909	Albert Einstein Physicist	University of Zurich Appointment	Zurich, Switzerland	Becomes associate professor of theoretical physics at the University of Zurich.
1910	Albert Einstein Physicist	Critical Opalescence Theory	Zurich, Switzerland	Explains critical opalescence using fluctuations near a liquid-gas critical point.
June 1911	Albert Einstein Physicist	Light Deflection	Prague, Switzerland	Predicts that gravity should bend starlight and proposes a solar-eclipse test.
1911	Albert Einstein Physicist	First Solvay Conference	Brussels, Switzerland	Participates in the first Solvay Conference, discussing radiation and quantum theory with leading physicists.
1911	Albert Einstein Professor of Physics	Professor at Prague	Prague, Switzerland	Becomes professor of theoretical physics at the German University in Prague.
1 October 1912	Albert Einstein Physicist	ETH Zurich Professorship	Zurich, Switzerland	Begins work as professor of theoretical physics at ETH Zurich.
1912	Albert Einstein Physicist	Tensor Calculus Collaboration	Zurich, Switzerland	Works with Marcel Grossmann to master tensor calculus for a relativistic theory of gravitation.
1912	Albert Einstein Physicist	Zurich Notebook	Zurich, Switzerland	Uses the Zurich Notebook to explore candidate gravitational field equations and differential geometry.
1913	Albert Einstein Physicist	Einstein-Grossmann Collaboration	Zurich, Switzerland	Collaborates closely with Marcel Grossmann on the mathematical framework of gravitation.
1913	Albert Einstein Physicist	Entwurf Theory	Zurich, Switzerland	Publishes the Entwurf gravitational theory with Marcel Grossmann as an intermediate step toward general relativity.
1914	Albert Einstein Physicist	Berlin Academy Appointment	Berlin, Germany	Moves to Berlin for a senior research appointment and membership of the Prussian Academy of Sciences.
1914	Albert Einstein Physicist	Covariance Problem in Gravitation	Berlin, Germany	Publishes work refining the mathematical and covariance problems of his developing gravitational theory.
1914	Albert Einstein Physicist	Manifesto to Europeans	Berlin, Germany	Co-signs a pacifist appeal opposing wartime nationalism among European intellectuals.
4 November 1915	Albert Einstein Physicist	Restricted Covariance Equations	Berlin, Germany	Presents revised gravitational field equations to the Prussian Academy during his final push toward general relativity.
11 November 1915	Albert Einstein Physicist	Unimodular Gravitation Equations	Berlin, Germany	Presents another formulation of gravitation using a restricted coordinate condition with unit determinant.
25 November 1915	Albert Einstein Physicist	General Relativity Field Equations	Berlin, Germany	Presents the final generally covariant gravitational field equations to the Prussian Academy.
18 December 1915	Albert Einstein Physicist	Göttingen Society Corresponding Membership	Göttingen, Germany	Elected a corresponding member of the Royal Society of Sciences at Göttingen.
1915	Albert Einstein Physicist	Einstein-de Haas Effect	Berlin, Germany	Publishes experimental work with Wander de Haas linking magnetism to angular momentum.
1915	Albert Einstein Physicist	Göttingen Relativity Lectures	Göttingen, Germany	Lectures on gravitation in Göttingen, stimulating intense discussion with leading mathematicians.
December 1916	Albert Einstein Physicist	Relativity: The Special and General Theory	Berlin, Germany	Publishes his popular introduction to special and general relativity.
1916	Albert Einstein Physicist	Foundation of General Relativity	Berlin, Germany	Publishes a systematic presentation of the general theory of relativity and its field equations.
1916	Albert Einstein Physicist	German Physical Society Presidency	Berlin, Germany	Serves as president of the German Physical Society during the consolidation of general relativity.
1916	Albert Einstein Physicist	Quantum Theory of Radiation	Berlin, Germany	Develops a quantum theory of radiation introducing transition probabilities later represented by Einstein coefficients.
1917	Albert Einstein Director	Kaiser Wilhelm Institute Directorship	Berlin, Germany	Becomes founding director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physics.
1917	Albert Einstein Physicist	Stimulated Emission	Berlin, Germany	Formulates stimulated emission in his quantum theory of radiation, a principle later fundamental to lasers.
1918	Albert Einstein Physicist	Zurich Guest Lectures	Zurich, Germany	Returns to Zurich for guest lectures while continuing work on relativity and quantum theory.
1919	Albert Einstein Physicist	International Scientific Fame	Berlin, Germany	Becomes internationally famous after eclipse observations are widely reported as confirming general relativity.
5 May 1920	Albert Einstein Physicist	Ether and Relativity Lecture	Leiden, Germany	Delivers the lecture Ether and the Theory of Relativity, redefining the concept in gravitational terms.
27 October 1920	Albert Einstein Physicist	Leiden Special Professorship	Leiden, Germany	Begins official duties as special professor at Leiden University.
1920	Albert Einstein Physicist	Anti-Relativity Campaign	Berlin, Germany	Publicly confronts organized attacks on relativity amid growing political and antisemitic hostility.
2 April 1921	Albert Einstein Physicist	First Arrival in New York	New York, Germany	Arrives in New York during his first visit to the United States, including lectures and fundraising.
5 May 1921	Albert Einstein Physicist	Royal Society Foreign Membership	London, Germany	Elected a Foreign Member of the Royal Society.
9 June 1921	Albert Einstein Physicist	Manchester Honorary Doctorate and Relativity Lecture	Manchester, Germany	Receives an honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of Manchester and lectures on relativity.
1921	Albert Einstein Physicist	Hebrew University Fundraising Tour	United States, Germany	Uses his first American visit to support fundraising for the future Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
1921	Albert Einstein Physicist	Nobel Prize	Stockholm, Germany	Receives the Nobel Prize in Physics for contributions to theoretical physics, particularly his explanation of the law governing the photoelectric effect.
1921	Albert Einstein Physicist	Nobel Prize in Physics	Berlin, Germany	Awarded the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics for theoretical physics, especially the law of the photoelectric effect.
1921	Albert Einstein Physicist	Princeton Stafford Little Lectures	Princeton, Germany	Delivers four Stafford Little Lectures explaining special and general relativity.
14 December 1922	Albert Einstein Physicist	Kyoto Relativity Lecture	Kyoto, Germany	Explains how he developed the theory of relativity in a lecture at Kyoto University.
1922	Albert Einstein Physicist	Early Unified Field Program	Berlin, Germany	Begins sustained attempts to combine gravitation and electromagnetism within a single field framework.
1922	Albert Einstein Physicist	Japan Lecture Tour	Japan, Germany	Travels through Japan giving lectures and public talks on relativity and modern physics.
1922	Albert Einstein Physicist	The Meaning of Relativity	Princeton, Germany	The Meaning of Relativity is published from the four lectures Einstein delivered at Princeton in May 1921.
7 February 1923	Albert Einstein Physicist	Jerusalem Relativity Lecture	Jerusalem, Germany	Lectures in French on relativity during his visit to British Mandate Palestine.
13 February 1923	Albert Einstein Physicist	Jerusalem German Lecture	Jerusalem, Germany	Gives a second Jerusalem lecture on relativity, this time in German.
4 March 1923	Albert Einstein Physicist	Madrid Academy Corresponding Membership	Madrid, Germany	Becomes a corresponding member of the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences in Madrid.
8 March 1923	Albert Einstein Physicist	Madrid Honorary Doctorate	Madrid, Germany	Receives an honorary doctorate in science from the University of Madrid.
7 June 1923	Albert Einstein Physicist	Pour le Merite for Sciences and Arts	Berlin, Germany	Is admitted to the Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts.
11 July 1923	Albert Einstein Physicist	Nobel Lecture	Gothenburg, Germany	Delivers his Nobel lecture on fundamental ideas and problems of relativity.
1923	Albert Einstein Physicist	Leiden Research Stay	Leiden, Germany	Spends an extended period in Leiden amid political threats in Germany, continuing scientific work.
20 June 1924	Albert Einstein Physicist	American Academy Foreign Honorary Membership	Berlin, Germany	Accepts election as a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
1924	Albert Einstein Physicist	Bose Paper Translation	Berlin, Germany	Translates Satyendra Nath Bose's paper on Planck's law into German and arranges its publication.
1924	Albert Einstein Physicist	Bose-Einstein Condensation Prediction	Berlin, Germany	Predicts that ideal bosonic particles can accumulate in the lowest quantum state at low temperature.
1924	Albert Einstein Physicist	Bose-Einstein Statistics	Berlin, Germany	Extends Bose's statistical method from photons to particles of an ideal gas.
30 November 1925	Albert Einstein Physicist	Copley Medal	London, Germany	Awarded the Royal Society's Copley Medal for relativity and contributions to quantum theory.
1925	Albert Einstein Physicist	Hebrew University Administrative Council	Berlin, Germany	Joins the administrative council of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
1925	Albert Einstein Physicist	Quantum Mechanics Critique Begins	Berlin, Germany	Engages critically with the emerging matrix and wave formulations of quantum mechanics.
1925	Albert Einstein Physicist	Second Quantum Gas Paper	Berlin, Germany	Publishes further work on the quantum theory of the ideal monatomic gas.
1925	Albert Einstein Physicist	South America Lecture Tour	South America, Germany	Tours Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil, giving lectures and meeting scientific and civic audiences.
1926	Albert Einstein Physicist	Rupp Radiation Experiments	Berlin, Germany	Collaborates with Emil Rupp on proposed tests of whether atomic radiation behaves as waves or quanta.
1926	Albert Einstein Physicist	Schrodinger Wave Mechanics Discussion	Berlin, Germany	Studies and discusses Schrödinger's wave mechanics while questioning its physical interpretation.
1927	Albert Einstein Physicist	Bohr-Einstein Quantum Debate	Brussels, Germany	Challenges Niels Bohr with thought experiments testing the completeness of quantum mechanics.
1927	Albert Einstein Physicist	Fifth Solvay Conference	Brussels, Germany	Participates in the fifth Solvay Conference and debates the interpretation of quantum mechanics.
1927	Albert Einstein Physicist	Motion from Field Equations	Berlin, Germany	Investigates with Jakob Grommer whether particle motion can follow directly from gravitational field equations.
1927	Albert Einstein Physicist	Princeton Research Professorship Invitation	Princeton, Germany	Receives an invitation to accept a research professorship at Princeton University.
13 April 1928	Albert Einstein Physicist	Helen Dukas Becomes Assistant	Berlin, Germany	Employs Helen Dukas as his secretary and assistant, beginning a long professional association.
1928	Albert Einstein Physicist	Teleparallel Unified Field Theory	Berlin, Germany	Develops a unified-field approach using distant parallelism, also called teleparallel geometry.
28 June 1929	Albert Einstein Physicist	Max Planck Medal	Berlin, Germany	Receives the inaugural Max Planck Medal for outstanding achievement in theoretical physics.
1929	Albert Einstein Physicist	Unified Field Theory Publication	Berlin, Germany	Publishes a widely publicized unified-field theory based on teleparallel geometry.
7 November 1930	Albert Einstein Physicist	ETH Zurich Honorary Doctorate	Zurich, Germany	Receives an honorary Doctor of Science degree from ETH Zurich.
1930	Albert Einstein Physicist	First Caltech Winter Visit	Pasadena, Germany	Begins an extended academic visit to the California Institute of Technology.
1930	Albert Einstein Physicist	Sixth Solvay Conference	Brussels, Germany	Attends the sixth Solvay Conference and continues discussions on quantum theory and field physics.
23 May 1931	Albert Einstein Physicist	Oxford Honorary Doctorate	Oxford, Germany	Receives an honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of Oxford.
1931	Albert Einstein Physicist	Oxford Rhodes Lectures	Oxford, Germany	Gives three Rhodes Memorial Lectures on relativity, cosmology and his latest work in theoretical physics.
17 March 1932	Albert Einstein Physicist	Leopoldina Membership	Halle, Germany	Becomes a member of the German Academy of Natural Scientists Leopoldina.
1932	Albert Einstein Physicist	Institute for Advanced Study Appointment	Princeton, Germany	Accepts appointment to the newly founded Institute for Advanced Study.
28 March 1933	Albert Einstein Physicist	Leaves Prussian Academy	Belgium, Switzerland	Resigns from the Prussian Academy of Sciences after deciding not to return to Nazi Germany.
1933	Albert Einstein Physicist	Oxford Lecture on Theoretical Physics	Oxford, Switzerland	Lectures at Oxford on the methods and foundations of theoretical physics.
1933	Albert Einstein Physicist	Permanent Move to Princeton	Princeton, Switzerland	Settles in the United States after the Nazi rise to power and joins the Institute for Advanced Study.
1933	Albert Einstein Physicist	Renounces German Citizenship	Belgium, Switzerland	Renounces German citizenship after the Nazi seizure of power while retaining Swiss citizenship.
28 December 1934	Albert Einstein Physicist	Josiah Willard Gibbs Lecture	Pittsburgh, Switzerland	Delivers the Gibbs Lecture on an elementary proof of the equivalence of mass and energy.
1934	Albert Einstein Physicist	On the Method of Theoretical Physics	Princeton, Switzerland	Publishes reflections on how fundamental theoretical physics develops from principles and mathematical structure.
15 May 1935	Albert Einstein Physicist	EPR Paper	Princeton, Switzerland	Einstein, Podolsky and Rosen publish their argument that quantum mechanics may not provide a complete description of physical reality.
15 May 1935	Albert Einstein Physicist	Franklin Medal	Philadelphia, Switzerland	Receives the Franklin Medal in recognition of his work in relativity and the photoelectric effect.
1935	Albert Einstein Physicist	Einstein-Rosen Bridge	Princeton, Switzerland	With Nathan Rosen, studies bridge solutions in general relativity connecting two sheets of spacetime.
15 January 1936	Albert Einstein Physicist	US Declaration of Intention	Trenton, Switzerland	Files a declaration of intention to become a citizen of the United States.
1937	Albert Einstein Physicist	Einstein-Infeld-Hoffmann Collaboration	Princeton, Switzerland	Works with Leopold Infeld and Banesh Hoffmann on deriving equations of motion from general relativity.
1938	Albert Einstein Physicist	Einstein-Infeld-Hoffmann Equations	Princeton, Switzerland	Publishes work deriving approximate equations of motion for gravitating bodies from general relativity.
1938	Albert Einstein Physicist	Evolution of Physics Published	Princeton, Switzerland	Publishes The Evolution of Physics with Leopold Infeld for a broad readership.
1 October 1940	Albert Einstein Physicist	United States Citizenship	Trenton, United States of America	Becomes a United States citizen while retaining Swiss citizenship.
1946	Albert Einstein Physicist	General Field Theory Draft	Princeton, United States of America	Presents a new draft of field equations for his continuing general field theory program.
1948	Albert Einstein Physicist	Generalized Theory of Gravitation	Princeton, United States of America	Publishes a generalized theory of gravitation during his continuing search for a unified field theory.
1949	Albert Einstein Physicist	Autobiographical Notes	Princeton, United States of America	Publishes Autobiographical Notes, reflecting on the development of his scientific ideas and philosophy.
1950	Albert Einstein Physicist	Later Unified Field Review	Princeton, United States of America	Presents and revises his mature attempts to construct a unified classical field theory.
1950	Albert Einstein Physicist	Out of My Later Years	Princeton, United States of America	Publishes a collection of essays on science, society, philosophy and public affairs.
1951	Albert Einstein Physicist	Unified Field Equations Refinement	Princeton, United States of America	Refines asymmetric-field approaches intended to combine gravitation and electromagnetism.
18 November 1952	Albert Einstein Physicist	Presidency of Israel Declined	Princeton, United States of America	Declines the offer to become president of Israel, citing lack of aptitude and experience for official duties.
18 April 1955	Albert Einstein	Death of Albert Einstein	Princeton, United States of America	Albert Einstein dies in Princeton, New Jersey, aged 76.

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