1875 : Albert Schweitzer born
The theologian, musician, philosopher and Nobel Prize-winning
physician Albert Schweitzer is born on this day in 1875 in
Upper-Alsace, Germany (now Haut-Rhin, France).
The son and grandson of ministers, Schweitzer studied theology and
philosophy at the universities of Strasbourg, Paris and Berlin. After
working as a pastor, he entered medical school in 1905 with the dream
of becoming a missionary in Africa. Schweitzer was also an acclaimed
concert organist who played professional engagements to earn money for
his education. By the time he received his M.D. in 1913, the
overachieving Schweitzer had published several books, including the
influential The Quest for the Historical Jesus and a book on the
composer Johann Sebastian Bach.
Medical degree in hand, Schweitzer and his wife, Helene Bresslau,
moved to French Equatorial Africa where he founded a hospital at
Lambarene (modern-day Gabon). When World War I broke out, the
German-born Schweitzers were sent to a French internment camp as
prisoners of war. Released in 1918, they returned to Lambarene in
1924. Over the next three decades, Schweitzer made frequent visits to
Europe to lecture on culture and ethics. His philosophy revolved
around the concept of what he called "reverence for life"--the idea
that all life must be respected and loved, and that humans should
enter into a personal, spiritual relationship with the universe and
all its creations. This reverence for life, according to Schweitzer,
would naturally lead humans to live a life of service to others.
Schweitzer won widespread praise for putting his uplifting theory into
practice at his hospital in Africa, where he treated many patients
with leprosy and the dreaded African sleeping sickness. Awarded the
Nobel Peace Prize for 1952, Schweitzer used his $33,000 award to start
a leprosarium at Lambarene. From the early 1950s until his death in
1965, Schweitzer spoke and wrote tirelessly about his opposition to
nuclear tests and nuclear weapons, adding his voice to those of fellow
Nobelists Albert Einstein and Bertrand Russell.
history.com/tdih.do
General Interest
1875 : Albert Schweitzer born
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihVideoCategory&id=52343
1639 : The first colonial constitution
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4674
1963 : George Wallace inaugurated as Alabama governor
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4675
1980 : Gold prices soar
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=6776
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The theologian, musician, philosopher and Nobel Prize-winning
physician Albert Schweitzer is born on this day in 1875 in
Upper-Alsace, Germany (now Haut-Rhin, France).
The son and grandson of ministers, Schweitzer studied theology and
philosophy at the universities of Strasbourg, Paris and Berlin. After
working as a pastor, he entered medical school in 1905 with the dream
of becoming a missionary in Africa. Schweitzer was also an acclaimed
concert organist who played professional engagements to earn money for
his education. By the time he received his M.D. in 1913, the
overachieving Schweitzer had published several books, including the
influential The Quest for the Historical Jesus and a book on the
composer Johann Sebastian Bach.
Medical degree in hand, Schweitzer and his wife, Helene Bresslau,
moved to French Equatorial Africa where he founded a hospital at
Lambarene (modern-day Gabon). When World War I broke out, the
German-born Schweitzers were sent to a French internment camp as
prisoners of war. Released in 1918, they returned to Lambarene in
1924. Over the next three decades, Schweitzer made frequent visits to
Europe to lecture on culture and ethics. His philosophy revolved
around the concept of what he called "reverence for life"--the idea
that all life must be respected and loved, and that humans should
enter into a personal, spiritual relationship with the universe and
all its creations. This reverence for life, according to Schweitzer,
would naturally lead humans to live a life of service to others.
Schweitzer won widespread praise for putting his uplifting theory into
practice at his hospital in Africa, where he treated many patients
with leprosy and the dreaded African sleeping sickness. Awarded the
Nobel Peace Prize for 1952, Schweitzer used his $33,000 award to start
a leprosarium at Lambarene. From the early 1950s until his death in
1965, Schweitzer spoke and wrote tirelessly about his opposition to
nuclear tests and nuclear weapons, adding his voice to those of fellow
Nobelists Albert Einstein and Bertrand Russell.
history.com/tdih.do
General Interest
1875 : Albert Schweitzer born
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihVideoCategory&id=52343
1639 : The first colonial constitution
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4674
1963 : George Wallace inaugurated as Alabama governor
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4675
1980 : Gold prices soar
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=6776
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