44 Facts About Jost Winteler

Jost Winteler was a Swiss professor of Greek and history at the Kantonsschule Aarau, a linguist, a "noted" philologist, an ornithologist, a journalist, and a published poet.

Jost Winteler served as both a mentor and father figure to a teenage Albert Einstein, who boarded at his home from October 1895 to October 1896, while he attended his final year of secondary school.

Jost Winteler was born on 21 November 1846 in Filzbach, canton of Glarus.

Jost Winteler's father was a secondary school teacher, and, as such, Winteler received his primary schooling at home, starting around 1855.

Jost Winteler received his Matura, the equivalent of a high school diploma, from the Thurgau Kantonsschule in Frauenfeld, canton of Thurgau.

Jost Winteler studied history and German language from 1866 to 1870 at the University of Zurich, where he received his Diplom.

Jost Winteler went on to study philology at the University of Jena from 1870 to 1875.

Jost Winteler met his future wife, Pauline Eckart, in Jena, Germany, while he was studying at the University of Jena.

Jost Winteler married Pauline "Rosa" on 16 November 1871.

Professor Jost Winteler began work as a teacher in the Autumn of 1876 at the Zollikofer school for girls, located in Romanshorn, canton of Thurgau.

Jost Winteler then become the director of the gymnasium in Murten, canton of Fribourg, starting in 1880, but he resigned from his post several years later, in 1884, as a direct result of coming into conflict with the school's "hardline" ultramontanist governors.

In late October 1895, Jost Winteler met a 16-year-old Albert Einstein when he arrived at the train station in Aarau, the latter having just come from Zurich, a city some 25 miles away.

Jost Winteler had subsequently been advised by the director of the Polytechnic, Albin Herzog, to finish up his education and obtain his Matura at a local secondary school before returning to Zurich to retake the exam the following year.

Jost Winteler would stay at the Winteler's home for several years, leaving in 1892.

Jost Winteler's home was so large that Einstein was able to have his own room.

The head of the household, Jost Winteler, often led the family during their frequent post-supper discussions, or else would read aloud at the dinner table instead.

Jost Winteler was left behind in Munich, Germany so that he could finish his studies.

The young Einstein was favorably impressed by the Alte Kantonsschule Aarau, the school where Jost Winteler was headmaster, and found it much better than the strict Luitpold Gymnasium that he had left behind in Germany.

However, upon meeting Jost Winteler, Einstein came to realize that he had nothing to worry about.

The teaching style of Jost Winteler's school was in stark contrast to that of the Luitpold Gymnasium, as Einstein would soon come to see, and thoroughly appreciate, for himself.

Marie Jost Winteler was 18-years-old at the time; two years his senior.

Jost Winteler, as were his wife and Einstein's parents, was "thrilled" by the budding romance.

On 21 December 1895, Jost Winteler would inform his "dear friend", Gustav Maier, by letter that he believed that Einstein and his cousin had, "come to the right place".

At the time Jost Winteler wrote this letter, Einstein had been living at his home for about two months.

Einstein's father's words to Jost Winteler shared a similarly optimistic tone.

Hermann was "exceedingly pleased" that Jost Winteler had expressed a positive view of his son.

Jost Winteler's stay at Winteler's home had successfully fulfilled its purpose.

In 1901, about four years after Einstein left Winteler's house, Jost even went so far as to assist Albert, who, at the time, was desperate for work, in searching for a job.

Jost Winteler informed the director that his former teachers at the Aargau Kantonsschule could give their opinions on his character and conduct.

Evidently, Professor Jost Winteler was one of four teachers who had inspired Einstein to become a teacher himself.

Jost Winteler then mentioned that Michele Besso, who was Winteler's son-in-law by his eldest daughter's marriage, and Einstein's longtime best friend, had "probably" gone to Trieste.

Jost Winteler subsequently thanked Winteler for his, "kind letter" and asked him if he would give notice of his next visit to Bern, the capital city of Switzerland, "so that I can look you up".

On 9 January 1914, Einstein, while visiting with Rosa, again wrote to Jost Winteler, saying: "I cannot resist the temptation to send you my kind regards".

When Jost Winteler was 77 years old, he received yet another letter from Einstein on 3 October 1924.

Jost Winteler nostalgically reminisced on, "those fine, quiet walks near Aarau during which you said so many things to me".

Einstein remembered his former mentor, and his "distrust of imperial Germany", many years later when Germany expanded under Hitler during World War II; a conflict that Jost Winteler, who died in early 1929, had not lived long enough to see for himself.

Jost Winteler was known for the eccentricity of holding conversations with his pet birds.

And, despite once complaining to his first wife, Mileva Maric, that Professor Jost Winteler was, "an old schoolmaster, whatever he says", Einstein always held Jost Winteler in the highest esteem.

Jost Winteler faced a terrible triple tragedy on 1 November 1906, when his son, Julius, shot and killed his wife and his son-in-law, Ernst Bandi, then committed suicide.

Jost Winteler believed that his son had inherited his mental illness from his wife's side of the family.

Jost Winteler retired from teaching in the spring of 1914 and moved to Krummenau, canton of St Gallen.

Jost Winteler died at the age of 82 on 23 February 1929, in Wattwil, canton of St Gallen.

Jost Winteler was portrayed by actor Nicholas Rowe as a recurring character on National Geographic's first scripted series, Genius.

Jost Winteler's character was featured in three episodes: Einstein: Chapter One, Einstein: Chapter Two, and Einstein: Chapter Four.