--- title: How Albert Einstein Celebrated His Birthday description: Albert Einstein, born on March 14, 1879, was not a big fan of birthdays. canonical: https://time.com/4228178/albert-einstein-birthday/ author: Eliza Berman article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-03-14T12:00:26.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T05:00:23.792Z og:title: How Albert Einstein Celebrated His Birthday og:description: Albert Einstein, born on March 14, 1879, was not a big fan of birthdays. og:url: https://time.com/4228178/albert-einstein-birthday/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltba38f3fb050de828/69887e140a4a22678c9c86bf/160217-albert-einstein-05.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2031 og:image:height: 1142 og:image:alt: Albert Einstein og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: How Albert Einstein Celebrated His Birthday twitter:description: Albert Einstein, born on March 14, 1879, was not a big fan of birthdays. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltba38f3fb050de828/69887e140a4a22678c9c86bf/160217-albert-einstein-05.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # How Albert Einstein Celebrated His Birthday > Sponsored content. 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Worth Your Time is TIME's culture recommendation newsletter, edited by culture editor Eliza Berman. Twice a week it surfaces the books, shows, films and ideas TIME's editors think are worth your attention, and explains why. It is free at time.com/newsletters. #### Does TIME have a culture newsletter? Yes. Worth Your Time is TIME's culture newsletter, published Tuesdays and Saturdays. #### Who writes TIME's culture recommendations? Culture editor Eliza Berman writes Worth Your Time, drawing on TIME's critics and culture desk. #### Is Worth Your Time free? Yes. It is a free newsletter available at time.com/newsletters.  by [Eliza Berman](https://time.com/author/eliza-berman/)  ## Eliza Berman Berman is a senior editor at TIME. Mar 14, 2016 12:00 PM UTC  Famed scientist Albert Einstein in his study at home, 1948. Famed scientist Albert Einstein in his study at home, 1948. Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  by [Eliza Berman](https://time.com/author/eliza-berman/)  ## Eliza Berman Berman is a senior editor at TIME. Mar 14, 2016 12:00 PM UTC Albert Einstein was not into birthdays. The legendary theoretical physicist, born in Germany on March 14, 1879, resisted being the center of attention, telling LIFE he believed that “birthdays are for children.” But on his 74th birthday, in 1953, he made an exception. When Yeshiva University of New York requested to build a medical school in his name, he agreed—despite feeling the same way about such honors as he did about birthdays—and attended a fundraising luncheon in his honor. “For the occasion,” LIFE reported, “Einstein shed his characteristic baggy sweater and slacks, put on a gray suit. But he found it less easy to shed a lifetime of shyness.” He failed to notice the triple-tier birthday cake presented to him by Cake Bakers Union Local 51\. He eyed a slab of roast beef and objected, “This is for lions.” When all was said and done, the luncheon had raised $3.5 million for what is now the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. “I am glad it is over,” was all the honoree had to say about it. He died two years later, on April 18, 1955. Here, in recognition of what would have been Einstein’s 137th birthday, is a collection of LIFE photographers’ greatest images of the extraordinary thinker. _Liz Ronk, who edited this gallery, is the Photo Editor for LIFE.com. Follow her on Twitter_ [_@lizabethronk_](https://twitter.com/LizabethRonk)_._  A seated portrait of Albert Einstein, Princeton, NJ, on his birthday, March 14, 1953. Esther Bubley—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images  Albert Einstein with Mrs. Valentine Bargmann outside his home in Princeton, NJ, March 14, 1953. Esther Bubley—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images  Albert Einstein in his home with Valentine Bargmann, Princeton, NJ, March 14, 1953. Esther Bubley—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images  Caption from LIFE. Blind terrier Chico, 14, is petted by secretary and stepdaughter, Margot, who make up Einstein's household. Esther Bubley—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images  Famed scientist Albert Einstein in his study at home, 1948. Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Caption from LIFE. With Albert Einstein, Cord Meyer Jr. (president of United World Federalists, Inc.) discusses Russia's attitude toward world government. Einstein thinks Russians would first oppose world government then "once they see they cannot stop it . . . they will collaborate." Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Portrait of Albert Einstein, 1947. Al Fenn—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images  Caption from LIFE. Albert Einstein, the \[Institute for Advanced Study's\] most famous member, gives his first lecture in its only classroom. Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Caption from LIFE. Einstein tells Robert Oppenheimer about his newest attempts to explain matter in terms of space. Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Albert Einstein in discussion with Robert Oppenheimer in an office of the Institute for Advanced Study, 1947. Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Albert Einstein sits alone at the Institute for Advanced Study, 1947. Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Albert Einstein plays his beloved violin, 1941. Hansel Mieth—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Albert Einstein's violin recital, 1941. 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