History Facts

What can we really say about the most brilliant man in history? Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist and is best known for his theory of relativity and that funny little equation E = mc². There have been countless shows on the History Channel about him and even a few popular films. In today’s post we’ll learn several interesting facts about Albert Einstein.

Fact #1 - Albert Einstein didn’t talk until he was about three or four years old.

All children are different, but most start saying “momma” and “dadda” at under a year old and eventually begin talking and forming sentences around two years old. Despite his speech deficiencies, Einstein still excelled in early school.

Fact #2 - Albert Einstein’s father gave him a compass when he was five years old.

This is a significant gift because it sparked his curiosity in the unknown. Why did the compass needle always face north? Was there some invisible force acting on the object? It’s these questions that may have steered Einstein into the world of physics.

Fact #3 - Einstein worked at the Swiss Patent Office.

After graduating from ETH Zurich, Albert was unable to find a teaching job. He took up a small position as an assistant examiner in the Swiss Patent Office. It was his job to evaluate and approve patent applications for electromagnetic devices.

Fact #4 - In 1921 Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics, “for his services to Theoretical Physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect”.

Unfortunately for Albert, he wasn’t able to keep the prize money. As part of his divorce settlement from his first wife, he was ordered to give the money to her.

Fact #5 - Einstein became a citizen of the United States in 1940 and remained there the rest of his life.

I’m glad we can claim him!

Fact #6 - In 1939, Einstein signed a letter to U.S. President Roosevelt urging U.S. development of an atomic weapon.

Contrary to popular belief, Albert Einstein wasn’t actually involved in the development of the weapon.

Fact #7 - In 1999 Time magazine named him the “Person of the Century”.

Quite an accomplishment. Who were the runner-ups you ask? FDR and Ghandi.