How Albert Einstein celebrated his birthday

Albert Einstein was not on birthdays. The legendary theoretical physicist, born in Germany on March 14, 1879, resisted being the center of attention, saying LIFE believed that "Birthdays are for kids." But on his 74th birthday, in 1953, it was an exception.

When Yeshiva University in New York requested the construction of a medical school in his name, he agreed-though feel the same about such honors as he did with birthdays, and attended a luncheon fundraiser his honor.

"For the occasion," LIFE reported, "Einstein shed his characteristic sweater and baggy pants, put on a gray suit. But he found it less easy to throw a life of self-consciousness." He did not notice the cake three-tiered birthday cake presented Bakers Union Local 51. a piece of roast beef was noted and objected, "This is for the lions."

When all was said and done, the lunch had raised $ 3.5 million for what is now the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. "I'm glad it's over," it was all that the honoree had to say about it. He died two years later, on April 18th., 1955

Here, in recognition of what would have been 137th birthday Einstein, it is a collection of greatest thinker extraordinary life images of photographers.

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