Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein was born in Ulm, Kingdom of Württemberg, to a German Jewish family. He was the son of Pauline (Koch) and Hermann Einstein, a featherbed salesman. Albert began reading and studying science at a young age, and he graduated from a Swiss high school when he was 17. He then attended a Swiss Polytechnic, where he met his first wife. He graduated in 1900, and became a Swiss citizen in 1901. He began working at the Swiss Patent Office and continued his scientific studies. He taught at universities in Prague, Zurich, and Berlin, and continued his research in physics. The onset of World War II led him to move to the United States, and he was granted a post at the Institute for Advanced Study in New Jersey.

His wife gave birth to their daughter, Lieserl, in 1902, a year before they married. They never spoke about her after 1903. It is assumed that she was adopted by a friend or family member. Some speculate that she died in 1903 from scarlet fever. Einstein never saw her.

Children with Maric: Lieserl (born January, 1902), Hans Albert (born May 14, 1904), Eduard (born c. 1908).

Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 (for his discovery of the Photoelectric Effect).

When he left Germany in 1933, the Nazis put a price of 20,000 marks on his head.

Became a US citizen in 1940, but retained his Swiss citizenship.

Said to be a HUGE fan of the legendary Robert Clampett cartoon series, Time for Beany (1949). It is also believed that he once ended a meeting with scientists by saying, "Pardon me, gentlemen, but it's Time for Beany!".

Producer Julian Blaustein cast Sam Jaffee as Professor Barnhardt in "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (1951) because of his resemblance to Albert Einstein who, at that time, was the most recognized scientist in the world. For years afterward, Blaustein, and director Robert Wise, would refer to Professor Barnhardt as the "Einstein character.".

E=MC² was also used in the opening sequence for The Twilight Zone (1959) with the caption, "A dimension of mind.".

Pictured on the 8¢ US postage stamp in the original issue of the Prominent Americans series, issued 14 March 1966.

Philip Glass created an "opera" in 1976 called "Einstein on the Beach", inspired in part by Einstein's theories.

Pictured on a 15¢ US commemorative postage stamp celebrating the centennial of his birth, issued 4 March 1979.

Is reported to have kept several sets of the same outfit in his closet so that he could simply grab an outfit without having to think about what he wanted to wear. This quirk was later given to two characters played by Jeff Goldblum: Seth Brundle in The Fly (1986) and Ian Malcolm in Jurassic Park (1993). The same quirk was parodied by Jim Varney's alter ego, Ernest, in a series of films.

Referenced in the song 'The Call of the Wild (Merengue)' by David Byrne on his 1989 album, "Rei Momo".

Walter Matthau played Einstein in the film I.Q. (1994) even though he was a half-foot taller than the famous scientist.

Named Time magazine's Person of the Century. [December 1999]

In 2000, DC Comics artist Ed McGuiness often used Einstein's formula as his signature, after illustrating a full issue of "Superman: The Man of Steel".

Elected to the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2007 for his services to science and history (inaugural election). Official induction ceremonies held in May 2008.

Inducted into the International Mustache Hall of Fame in 2015 (inaugural class) in the category Historical Figure.