Albert Einstein (March 14, 1879 - April 18, 1955) was a German born American theoretical physicist who is widely regarded as the greatest scientist of the 20th century. He proposed the theory of relativity and also made major contributions to the development of quantam mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology. He was awarded the 1921 Nobel Prize for Physics for his explanation of the photoelectric effect and "for his services to Theoretical Physics".
After his general theory of relatively was formulated in November 1915, Einstein became world famous, an unusual achievement for a scientist, In his later years, his fame exceeded that of any othe scientist in history, and in popular culture, Einstein has become a byword for great intelligence of even genius.
Einstein himself was deeply concerned with the social impact of scientic discovery. An individual of monumental intellectual achivement, he remains the most influential theoretical physicist of the modern era. Einstein's reverence for all creation, his belief in the grandeur, beauty and sublimity of the universe (the primary source of inspiration in science), his awe for the scheme that is manifested in the material universe - all of these show through in his work and philosophy. To this day Einstein receives popular recognition unprecedented for a scientist.
