Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955) was a refugee. He lived through the pain and uncertainty of exile and went on to make extraordinary contributions to the culture of mankind and intellectual development. Authoring the Theory of General Relativity in 1905, Einstein changed fundamental ideas about space, time and gravitation. In 1933, Einstein, already a prominent German scientist, was accused of treason by the Third Reich. His books were burned. He sought refuge in the United States, where he used his influence and financial resources to obtain visas for other refugees.