Young, pretty and brilliant: Mileva Maric (1875-1948)
Mileva was a Serbian physicist, matemathician and the first wife as well as the collaborator of Albert Einstein (1879-1955). Some think that she was more than his collaborator, and that he drew on her ideas and knowledge. No matter what, most probably that part of their relationship will rest with all the other secrets of this couple that (as yet) haven't been disclosed to the world ....
They met when they both studied at The Zürich Polytechnic Hochschule. She was the only woman in a group of six students, and as such a rarity: The fifth woman to be allowed into that section. Women students at this level of studies were extremely talented as well as rare because of the regulations of the universities. However, Mileva and Albert Einstein became close friends and then something more. Unfortunately for her, what disrupted her studies was an unwanted pregnancy with a daughter who was born in 1902. Before she was born the couple referred to this secret child as "Hansel". After her birth they used the name "Lieserl", but she was still kept a secret, and nobody seems to know what became of her. Not that there hasn't been theories because actualy there has been many ....
Did she die from scarlet fever as has been suggested by some or was she put up for adoption in the homeland of Mileva? Nobody seems to know for sure, but it's obvious that the birth of this illegitimate and thus secret child was a hindrance to the studies and career of Mileva, but not to her father, Albert Einstein.
According to the legend one of the problems was the fierce rejection of Mileva by his family. They did not want him to marry her and thus saving her from the stigma of being an "unmarried mother". However, in 1903 they did marry, and in 1904 their son, Hans Albert, was born.
Mileva and Albert with their son, Hans Albert
In 1911 their second son, Eduard ("Tete") was born, but as he grew up he had some health problems, and in 1930 he was dignosed with schizophrenia. One year after the birth of "Tete" his father, Albert Einstein, got reacquainted with his cousin, Elsa, which led to many problems in his and Mileva's marriage. She wasn't treated in a proper manner, and the marriage became more and more restrained. Their son, Hans Albert, grew up and was recognized as an expert researcher in "sediment transport". The American Society of Civil Engineers honored him and his work by establishing "The Hans Albert Einstein Award" in 1988. By then both of his parents had died, also they had divorced, and Albert had remarried after multiple affairs.
Young or old, Albert had an eye for the girls ....
Mileva and Albert had married in 1903, but in 1919 they were divorced after he had made a laughing stock out of her in her family by having affairs with her cousins. That must have hurt very much, and even though she may have been bitter they still kept contact. After all they had two boys so it figures that he, when he was awarded The Nobel Prize in 1921, gave her the money in a so-called "settlement". She invested them in three houses, one to live in and two to let out which gave her an income to live on.
Albert Einstein with this son and grandson
Both before and after the deaths of Mileva and Albert there has been many speculations as to the work routine of the couple: Did Mileva do more than just inspire him, and what did he indicate with his use of the word "collaborate" about her? According to their son, Hans Albert, they did work together, but that doesn't answer the questions "How and how much did she influence him? Was some of his ideas actually her brain children?" Probably without even understanding the word "misogynist", that's what he was, not only sexually, but also in other ways. For instance he "forgot" to mention her name in publications of their joint work. Also she worked with him in developing his "Relativity Theory", but as yet we don't know how much ....
https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/science/general-science/albert-einstein-facts/
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/03064229008534960
Wikipedia
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