Poll Names Einstein As New Jersey’s ‘Most Inspiring Immigrant’

NEW JERSEY — When it comes to “inspiring immigrants,” Albert Einstein is setting the bar in New Jersey – and the rest of the nation, a poll says.

Language resource organization Guide2Fluency surveyed 3,000 people across the U.S. in an attempt to discern each state’s “Most Inspiring Immigrant.” See the full results of their poll here.

Einstein ranked as the number one selection in both New Jersey and the United States.

“Think of New Jersey, and you might picture the Princeton labs where Albert Einstein transformed our understanding of the universe,” Guide2Fluency wrote. “Originally from Germany, Einstein brought his brilliance to Princeton University, making New Jersey a beacon for global academic excellence.”

The iconic scientist – a member of the New Jersey Hall of Fame – is widely regarded as one of the most influential minds of the 20th century.

The New Jersey Hall of Fame shares the following biographic information about Einstein on their website:

“Einstein emigrated from Germany to New Jersey in 1933, joining the Institute for Advanced Study. He lived in Princeton for 22 years until his death in 1955. Awarded the 1921 Nobel Prize for Physics, Albert Einstein is best known for his theory of relativity and the ubiquitous formula E=MC². He challenged himself consistently as evidenced by his statement, ‘A person who never made a mistake, never tried anything new.’ Universally recognized as one of the supreme intellects of all time, Einstein was named ‘Person of the Century’ by Time Magazine in 1999.”

New Jerseyans' second choice for “most inspiring immigrant” was Thomas Nast.

“Born in Germany, Nast moved to New Jersey as a child and faced language barriers,” pollsters wrote. “He became a famous political cartoonist, known for creating iconic images such as Uncle Sam and Santa Claus, influencing American culture and political commentary.”

Other top choices across the nation included Elon Musk (2nd) and Arnold Schwarzenegger (3rd) of California, Nikola Tesla (4th), Madeleine Albright (5th), Irving Berlin (7th), Elie Wiesel (9th) and Joseph Pulitzer (10th) of New York, Mary Harris “Mother” Jones of West Virginia (6th), and Henry Kissinger (8th) of Massachusetts.

“Immigrants have not only contributed to America’s industries and culture but have also enriched our understanding of the world through the languages, ideas and traditions they bring with them,” said Mathias Johansen of Guide2Fluency.

“From Albert Einstein’s groundbreaking theories to Irving Berlin’s timeless melodies, these individuals remind us that diversity is America’s greatest strength,” Johansen said.

• See Related: NJ Undocumented Immigrants Pay $1B In Taxes, Study Says (Here’s How)
• See Related: 5 Reasons Why Immigrants Make New Jersey Better
• See Related: NJ Will Translate State Documents Into 7 Languages Under New Law

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