The Early Years of Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879, in Ulm, in the Kingdom of Württemberg in the German Empire. His parents were Hermann Einstein, a salesman, and engineer, and Pauline Koch.

In 1880, Einstein's family moved to Munich, where his father and uncle founded Elektrotechnische Fabrik J. Einstein & Cie., producing electrical equipment based on direct current.

Einstein attended the Luitpold Gymnasium in Munich. However, he felt alienated there and struggled with the rigid Prussian education style that didn't suit his learning preferences.

After leaving the Gymnasium, Einstein enrolled at the Aarau cantonal school in Switzerland. There, he thrived under the tutelage of Jost Winteler, who fostered his love for theoretical physics.

In 1896, Einstein renounced his German citizenship to avoid military service and enrolled in the Zurich Polytechnic, where he would eventually meet his first wife, Mileva Marić.

Einstein faced challenges finding an academic position after graduation due to mediocre recommendations from his professors, who were unimpressed with his rebellious nature.

By 1902, Einstein secured a job as a technical assistant in the Swiss Patent Office. This position offered him the time to contemplate and develop his revolutionary theories in physics.

Einstein was a passionate violinist. He once said if he weren't a physicist, he would have been a musician.