Origins & Early Life

Johannes Stark (German: [joˈhanəs ˈʃtaʁk] ; 15 April 1874 – 21 June 1957) was a German physicist who received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1919 for his discovery of the Stark effect. A supporter of Adolf Hitler from 1924, Stark was one of the main figures, along with fellow Nobel laureate Philipp Lenard, in the antisemitic Deutsche Physik movement, which sought to remove Jewish physicists from German institutions. In 1947, he was found guilty as a "Major Offender" by a denazification court, but this was reduced to "Lesser Offender" in 1949 after appeal. Johannes Stark was born on 15 April 1874 in Schickenhof (now part of Freihung), Germany.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Stark was educated at the Gymnasium in Bayreuth, and later in Regensburg. In 1894, he entered the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, where he studied physics, mathematics, chemistry, and crystallography. In 1897, he received his Ph.D. in Physics with a thesis, written under Eugen von Lommel, titled Untersuchungen über einige physikalische, vorzüglich optische Eigenschaften des Russes (Investigations into some physical, especially optical, properties of soot). Stark stayed at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München as an assistant...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abby Aldrich Rockefeller — Contemporary (Born in 1874) (1874): American socialite and influential philanthropist, key patron of modern art.
• Adolphe Quetelet — Contemporary (Died in 1874) (1874): Pioneering Belgian statistician, founder of anthropometry, and social scientist.
• Amy Lowell — Contemporary (Born in 1874) (1874): American poet, key figure in the Imagist school, known for her vibrant verse.
• Aliko Dangote — Contemporary (Born in 1957) (1957): Nigerian billionaire founder of Dangote Group, a major industrial conglomerate.
• Arturo Toscanini — Contemporary (Died in 1957) (1957): Intense Italian conductor, master of orchestral detail, and pivotal figure in 20th-century music.
• Constantin Brâncuși — Contemporary (Died in 1957) (1957): Pioneer of modern sculpture, Brâncuși emphasized clean lines and elemental forms.
• Abraham Lincoln — Shared historical date (04-15 · Died) (1865): 16th President of the United States; guided the nation through the Civil War.
• Adolphe Thiers — Shared historical date (04-15 · Born) (1797): Influential French statesman, historian, and President of the Third Republic.
• Aloysius Gonzaga — Shared historical date (06-21 · Died) (1591): Italian Jesuit seminarian and saint, known for his aristocratic background and early death.
• Anders Jonas Ångström — Shared historical date (06-21 · Died) (1874): Pioneering Swedish physicist, founder of spectroscopy and astrophysics.
• 1874 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1874
• April 15 (04-15) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on April 15
• 1957 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1957
• June 21 (06-21) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on June 21