Mileva Marić: The First Marriage
Einstein married Serbian physicist Mileva Marić in 1903, after the birth of their illegitimate daughter Lieserl — whose fate remains unknown, possibly dying of scarlet fever in infancy. They had two sons, Hans Albert and Eduard. Their 1919 divorce agreement was unusual: Einstein promised Mileva any future Nobel Prize money. When the Prize came in 1921, he paid. Some historians have debated Mileva's intellectual contribution to Einstein's early work; the consensus is that her role was supportive rather than co-creative.
Eduard: The Broken Son
Einstein's son Eduard showed early intellectual brilliance and wanted to be a psychiatrist, but developed schizophrenia in his early 20s. Einstein had little contact with Eduard after emigrating to the US in 1933. Eduard spent most of his adult life in a psychiatric institution in Zurich. Einstein reportedly told friends that he wished Eduard had never been born — a statement that has cast a long shadow over his legacy.
Elsa: The Second Marriage
Einstein married his cousin Elsa Löwenthal in 1919 — the same year his divorce from Mileva was finalized. Elsa managed his household and public image, and their relationship was pragmatic and affectionate if not passionate. She died in 1936 in Princeton, where Einstein spent his final years.
Politics and Pacifism
Einstein was a committed socialist, pacifist, and Zionist. He fled Nazi Germany in 1933, renounced his German citizenship, and became an American citizen. He co-signed the famous Einstein-Szilárd letter warning Roosevelt about nuclear weapons — a decision he called his greatest mistake. He supported civil rights, corresponded with W.E.B. Du Bois, and was surveilled by the FBI for his political associations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Einstein have children?
Yes — three children with his first wife Mileva Marić: a daughter Lieserl (whose fate is unknown), and sons Hans Albert and Eduard. Eduard developed schizophrenia and spent much of his life institutionalized. Einstein's relationship with his children, particularly Eduard, was troubled.
Did Mileva Marić contribute to Einstein's work?
Mileva was a trained physicist who collaborated with Einstein intellectually during their relationship. Some historians have argued she contributed more than acknowledged; most conclude she was a sounding board and emotional support rather than a co-author. No surviving evidence shows she contributed original results.
Why did Einstein sign the letter that led to the atomic bomb?
Einstein co-signed the 1939 Einstein-Szilárd letter warning President Roosevelt that Nazi Germany might be developing atomic weapons and urging the US to begin nuclear research. He later called it his greatest mistake — not because the warning was wrong, but because it contributed to Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
