Hans Albert Einstein
Hans Albert Einstein entered the world on the 14th of May 1904 in Bern, Switzerland. His father worked as a clerk at the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property during those early years. The family included his mother Mileva Marić from Serbia and his younger brother Eduard born in 1910. An older sister named Lieserl existed before Hans but her fate remains unknown to history. Some suggest she died of scarlet fever in 1903 while others find no record of her death. Hans and Eduard received baptism as Orthodox Christians in Novi Sad in 1913. Their parents divorced in 1919 after living apart for five long years.
In 1922 Hans followed his parents into higher education at ETH Zurich. He studied civil engineering and graduated four years later in 1926. From 1926 until 1930 he worked for Klönne steel design company in Dortmund Germany. A new Laboratory of Hydraulics and Soil Mechanics opened at ETH Zurich between 1931 and 1938. Hans served there as a research engineer during that period. He earned a doctorate in technical science in 1936 with work titled Bed Load Transport as a Probability Problem. This thesis became known as the definitive study on sediment transport within hydraulic engineering circles.
His doctoral thesis examined how particles move along riverbeds using probability theory. The document appeared under the title Bed Load Transport as a Probability Problem in German. Researchers still cite this work when studying how rivers carry sand and gravel downstream. It established foundational principles for modern hydraulic engineering science. The American Society of Civil Engineers recognized this contribution decades later by creating an award named after him. That honor arrived in 1988 to mark outstanding achievements in the field. His methods remain central to understanding how water shapes landscapes over time.
Hans left Switzerland for Greenville South Carolina in 1938 following his father's advice. Albert Einstein had departed Germany earlier due to Nazi persecution against Jewish people. Hans worked for the US Department of Agriculture from 1938 until 1943. He studied sediment transport while employed there. In 1943 he moved to California Institute of Technology continuing USDA work. A position as associate professor opened at UC Berkeley in 1947. He advanced to full professor status before becoming professor emeritus. He traveled globally to attend hydraulic engineering conferences throughout his career.
The Guggenheim Fellowship honored Hans Albert Einstein in 1953. Research awards came from the American Society of Civil Engineers during 1959 and 1960. The University of California presented a Berkeley Citation in 1971. The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a Certificate of Merit that same year. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers gave recognition for over twenty years of service to Applied Mechanics Reviews in 1972. Pi Tau Sigma granted him honorary membership grade in December 1949. He served as principal guest of honor at Technion building dedication in 1958.
Hans married Frieda Knecht in 1927 who lived from 1895 to 1958. They had four children including Bernhard Caesar born the 10th of July 1930. Klaus Martin died of diphtheria aged six in 1939. David Einstein passed away one month after birth in November 1939. Evelyn Einstein was adopted daughter born the 28th of March 1941. Frieda died in 1958 so he married neurochemist Elizabeth Roboz the following year. Hans sailed frequently on San Francisco Bay with family and colleagues. He took thousands of photographs during field trips which he developed himself. His gravestone lists research music and nature as life priorities. He played flute and piano while attending symposiums until his death.
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Common questions
When and where was Hans Albert Einstein born?
Hans Albert Einstein entered the world on the 14th of May 1904 in Bern, Switzerland. His father worked as a clerk at the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property during those early years.
What did Hans Albert Einstein study at ETH Zurich?
Hans Albert Einstein studied civil engineering and graduated four years later in 1926. He earned a doctorate in technical science in 1936 with work titled Bed Load Transport as a Probability Problem.
Why did Hans Albert Einstein leave Switzerland for the United States?
Hans Albert Einstein left Switzerland for Greenville South Carolina in 1938 following his father's advice. Albert Einstein had departed Germany earlier due to Nazi persecution against Jewish people.
Which university appointed Hans Albert Einstein as a professor?
A position as associate professor opened at UC Berkeley in 1947. He advanced to full professor status before becoming professor emeritus.
Who were the children of Hans Albert Einstein and Frieda Knecht?
They had four children including Bernhard Caesar born the 10th of July 1930. Klaus Martin died of diphtheria aged six in 1939 and David Einstein passed away one month after birth in November 1939.