Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who is widely considered as one of the most influential scientists of the 20th century. Born in Ulm, in the Kingdom of Württemberg in the German Empire, on March 14, 1879, Einstein developed an early interest in mathematics and science, and showed remarkable aptitude in these subjects.

In 1895, Einstein moved to Switzerland to study at the Polytechnic School in Zurich. He graduated in 1900 with a degree in physics, but found it difficult to secure a job in his field. After a few years working as a patent clerk, Einstein returned to academia, eventually landing a job as a professor of theoretical physics at the University of Zurich.

Einstein's scientific work began to gain recognition in the early 1900s, particularly for his work on the photoelectric effect. This work led to his development of the theory of special relativity, which was published in 1905 and fundamentally changed our understanding of space and time.