Albert Einsteins striking theories made him a captivating scientist from the early 1920s into the 1940s. Many believe he fabricated the most significant scientific discoveries of the 20th century. Albert Einstein was born in Germany on March 14, 1879, into a small Jewish family. He had an estranged childhood, and surprisingly, he never spoke until he was three years old. Einstein was one of those kids who couldnt stand the boring teachings of school, although, he was unbelievably bright. He taught himself Euclidean geometry at age twelve.(www.groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/) He grew up primarily in Munich, Germany, where his family owned a shop that manufactured electrical devices. When repeated business failure struck his family business they were forced to move to Milan, Italy, to start over. He used this as an excuse to quit school. His family business failed again in Milan. At this point, Einstein decided he would have to make his own way in life. He decided to finish school in Arrau, Switzerland.(Encarta 96) He even wrote one of his essays on his future plans:(which he only got a little over half marks for)"If I were to have good fortune to pass my examinations, I would go to Zurich. I would stay there for four years in order to study mathematics and physics. I imagine myself becoming a teacher in those branches of natural sciences, choosing my theoretical part of them. Here are the reasons which lead me to this plan. Above all, it is my disposition for abstract and mathematical thought, and my lack of imagination and practical ability." (www.groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/)Soon after, he entered the Swiss National Polytechnic in Zrich. He hated the teaching methods there and often skipped class to play his violin or to study physics on his own. He graduated by studying a friends notes to pass the final exams. Irritated by his small attention span, his teachers wouldnt give him recommendations for university positions as a profes...
