Elsa Einstein facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elsa Einstein
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Elsa Einstein in 1929
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| Born | 18 January 1876 Hechingen, German Empire
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| Died | 20 December 1936 (aged 60) |
| Nationality | German |
| Known for | Being the second wife and cousin of Albert Einstein |
| Spouse(s) |
Max Löwenthal
(m. 1896; div. 1908) |
| Children | Ilse Lowenthal Einstein Margot Lowenthal Einstein |
| Parent(s) | Rudolf Einstein Fanny Koch Einstein |
| Relatives | Hermann Einstein (father-in-law; first cousin, once removed) Albert Einstein (second husband; first cousin) |
| Family | Einstein |
Elsa Einstein (born January 18, 1876 – died December 20, 1936) was a German woman known for being the second wife of the famous scientist Albert Einstein. They were also cousins. Their mothers were sisters, making them first cousins on their mothers' side. Their fathers were also cousins, making them second cousins on their fathers' side. Elsa was born with the last name Einstein. She changed it when she married her first husband, Max Löwenthal. After her divorce in 1908, she and her daughters went back to using her maiden name, Einstein.
Early Life of Elsa Einstein
Elsa was born in Hechingen, Germany, on January 18, 1876. Her parents were Rudolf and Fanny Einstein. She had two sisters, Paula and Hermine. Her father, Rudolf, worked as a textile manufacturer.
When she was young, Elsa often played with her cousin Albert during family visits in Munich. She used to call him "Albertle" in her local Swabian German accent. They stopped seeing each other regularly in 1894 when Albert moved to Milan, Italy, with his family.
Elsa Einstein's Marriages
In 1896, Elsa married Max Löwenthal, a textile trader from Berlin. They had three children together: two daughters named Ilse (born 1897) and Margot (born 1899), and a son who was born in 1903 but sadly died soon after birth.
The family lived in Hechingen. In 1902, Max Löwenthal took a job in Berlin, but Elsa and the children stayed in Hechingen. She divorced Max on May 11, 1908. After the divorce, she and her daughters moved to an apartment in Berlin, right above her parents' home. They also started using her maiden name, Einstein, again.
Elsa and her cousin Albert Einstein began a relationship in April 1912. At that time, Albert was still married to his first wife, Mileva Marić. Albert separated from Mileva in July 1914, and their divorce was finalized on February 10, 1919. Elsa and Albert married a few months later, on June 2, 1919.
Albert raised Elsa's daughters, Ilse and Margot, as his own. Even though Albert and Elsa did not have children together, they formed a close family. They lived in the Berlin area and also had a summer house in Caputh, Brandenburg near Potsdam starting in 1929. Ilse even worked as Albert Einstein's secretary for a short time.
During her marriage to Albert, Elsa often protected him from unwanted visitors. She also played a big part in building their summer house.
Later Life and Final Years
In 1933, Albert and Elsa Einstein moved to Princeton, New Jersey, in the United States. In the autumn of 1935, they moved into a house at 112 Mercer Street.
Soon after moving, Elsa developed a swollen eye. She was diagnosed with heart and kidney problems. Albert Einstein spent a lot of time on his studies during this period. He believed that focusing on his work helped him deal with life's difficulties. Elsa died after a difficult illness on December 20, 1936, at their home on Mercer Street.
See also
- Albert Einstein House Princeton
- Genius, a television series depicting the Einsteins
- List of coupled cousins
