Mileva Marić

Mileva and Albert
as an "ein Stein"*

(*from germ. "one stone")

Fig.1 - Mileva and Albert Einstein in 1912.

There is a theory that Einstein's first wife Mileva Maric-Einstein has a significant share in discovering special relativity. The idea came from some of Einstein’s letters to Marić. In particular, he wrote in one 1901 letter,

“How happy and proud I will be when the two of us together will have brought our work on the relative motion to a victorious conclusion!”

Some argue that this — along with other letters where Einstein uses phrases like “our research” prove that Marić was more involved in her husband’s scientific endeavors than history suggests.

Mileva Maric-Einstein was born in Serbia

Mileva Marić-Einstein (1875-1948) was a Serbian physicist and mathematician who is best known for her association with Albert Einstein, one of the most renowned scientists in history. While Mileva's contributions to physics and mathematics have been a subject of debate among scholars, she played a significant role in Einstein's early scientific endeavors and their relationship had a profound impact on both their lives. Born on December 19, 1875, in Titel, a town in the Austro-Hungarian Empire (present-day Serbia), Mileva showed exceptional intellectual abilities from a young age.

Mileva as a female student in all-male school

To study phisics she need to get a special permision. Her father obtained special permission to enroll Marić as a private student at the all-male Royal Classical High School in Zagreb. In 1896, she enrolled at the Polytechnic Institute in Zurich, Switzerland, becoming one of the few women in a predominantly male field. It was there that she met Albert Einstein, and the two became close friends and collaborators.

Mileva and Albert's mariage

Mileva and Albert's relationship quickly deepened, and they married in 1903. They had two sons together, Hans Albert and Eduard. However, their marriage faced numerous challenges, including financial difficulties and personal differences. Despite these hardships, Mileva continued to support and collaborate with Albert on scientific research. Some evidence suggests that Mileva made substantial contributions to Einstein's early work, particularly his theory of relativity. It is believed that she provided valuable insights and even collaborated on mathematical equations. However, due to the lack of detailed records and conflicting accounts, the extent of her contributions remains a topic of discussion among historians. Sadly, Mileva and Albert's marriage eventually deteriorated, and they separated in 1914, with divorce following in 1919. After the divorce, Mileva faced numerous hardships, including raising their children as a single mother and dealing with health issues. She returned to Switzerland and taught physics at a girls' school for a brief period. In her later years, she lived a secluded life in Zurich.

Mileva as a symbol of female scientists in a male-dominated field

Mileva Marić-Einstein's contributions to science and her influence on Albert Einstein's work have gained increasing recognition over the years. While her exact contributions may never be definitively established, she remains an important figure in the history of women in science and a symbol of the challenges faced by female scientists in a male-dominated field. Mileva Marić-Einstein passed away on August 4, 1948, in Zurich, Switzerland, leaving behind a legacy that continues to intrigue and inspire researchers and historians today. Her story serves as a reminder of the importance of acknowledging the often overlooked contributions of women in the sciences and promoting gender equality in scientific fields.