638 BIOGRAPHIES Gasser, Adolf b. 23 October 1877 in Bern d. 4 June 1948 in Winterthur, Switzerland Friend of Einstein. Son of a laborer. 1892-1896, trained to become a primary schoolteacher at Muristalden seminar, canton of Bern. 1896, appointed to teaching position in Oberwangen near Bern. 1898, entered University of Bern as student of mathematics and physics. 1902, met Einstein when both were giving private instruction through him was introduced to his future wife, to whom Einstein may have given instruction initially. 1902-1903, received secondary-school teaching certificate, served as Assistent, and completed work toward doctorate in physics at University of Bern. 1903, appointed in- structor at Burgdorf Gymnasium married Hedwig Reiniger, with whom he had three children. 1907-1940, served as Professor of Physics and Mathemat- ics at Technikum Winterthur. 1908-1910, together with brother Rudolf assist- ed Einstein in the construction of the "Maschinchen." 1909-1940, directed the Social Democratic Press Union and served on the editorial board of the Winterthur newspaper, Stadtanzeiger. 1911-1917, served as president of a la- bor association in Winterthur. 1917, appointed to Zurich cantonal council. 1928, appointed to Swiss National Council (Nationalrat). 1946, published Die Neue komische Weltanschauung. Sources: His files, SzBeSa Seelig 1960 obituaries in Der Landbote (8 June 1948) and Arbeiterzeitung (5 June 1948), both of Winterthur correspondence in the Einstein Archives. Habicht, Franz Paul b. 20 November 1884 in Schaffhausen, Switzerland d. 11 July 1948 in Schaffhausen Friend and collaborator of Einstein. Son of a bank director in Schaffhausen younger brother of Einstein's friend Conrad Habicht (see Biography, Vol. 1, p. 382). 1890-1896, attended primary school in hometown. 1896-1899, at- tended Freies Gymnasium, Bern. 1900-1903, did machine technical appren- ticeship at Amsler-Laffon of Schaffhausen. 1901, probably met Einstein while latter was teaching at a private school next door to the Habicht family in Schaffhausen. 1903-1907, attended Technikum Winterthur and received leaving certificate as machine technician. 1908-1910, worked as technical designer at Elektrizitätsgesellschaft Alioth AG of Basel-Münchenstein col- laborated with Einstein on the development of the "Maschinchen." 1910, took sick and returned to Schaffhausen, where he worked in a laboratory in the basement of his parents' home. 1913-1917, periodically served as substi- tute teacher at Technikum Winterthur for physics, mathematics, and other