Einstein was born in Ulm, Germany on March 14, 1874. Before his first birthday, his
family had moved to Munich where young Albert's father, Hermann Einstein, and uncle
set up a small electro-chemical business. He was fortunate to have an excellent family
with which he held a strong relationship. Albert's mother, Pauline Einstein, had an
intense passion for music and literature, and it was she that first introduced her son to
the violin in which he found much joy and relaxation. Also, he was very close with his
younger sister, Maja, and they could often be found in the lakes that were scattered
about the countryside near Munich.
As a child, Einstein's sense of curiosity had already begun to stir. A favorite toy of his
was his father's compass, and he often marvelled at his uncle's explanations of algebra.
Although young Albert was intrigued by certain mysteries of science, he was considered
a slow learner.
English: receiving from Judge his certificate of A...
English: Albert Einstein Français : portrait d'Al...
English: Albert Einstein, official 1921 Nobel Priz...His failure to become fluent in German until the age of nine even led
some teachers to believe he was disabled.
Einstein's post-basic education began at the Luitpold Gymnasium when he was ten. It
was here that he first encountered the German spirit through the school's strict
disciplinary policy. His disapproval of this method of teaching led to his reputation as a
rebel. It was probably these differences that caused Einstein to search for knowledge at
home. He began not with science, but with religion. He avidly studied the Bible seeking
truth, but this religious fervor soon died down when he discovered the intrigue of science
and math. To him, these seemed much more realistic than ancient stories. With this
new knowledge he disliked class even more, and was eventually expelled from Luitpold
Gymnasium being considered a disruptive influence.
Feeling that he could no longer...