Albert Einstein (1879-1955) was a theoretical physicist who is widely considered one of the most influential scientists of the 20th century. He is best known for his theory of relativity, which fundamentally changed our understanding of space and time, and for his famous equation, E=mc², which showed the relationship between mass and energy.
Einstein was born in Ulm, Germany, and showed an early interest in mathematics and science. He studied at the Polytechnic School in Zurich, Switzerland, and later worked as a patent clerk in Bern, where he began to develop his ideas about relativity.
In 1905, Einstein published a series of papers that would change the course of physics. These included his special theory of relativity, which showed that time and space were not absolute, but instead were relative to the observer's frame of reference, and his famous equation, E=mc², which showed that mass and energy were interchangeable.
Einstein's work revolutionized our understanding of the universe and paved the way for the development of nuclear energy and modern physics. He won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his work on theoretical physics, and later emigrated to the United States to escape Nazi persecution.
In addition to his scientific work, Einstein was also a social and political activist who spoke out against war and nuclear weapons. He died in Princeton, New Jersey in 1955 at the age of 76.