Albert Schweitzer was an Alsatian polymath.In Europe, he used to give benefit concerts to people. He was a humanitarian.He was born in the year 1875, on January 14. For his philosophical work on the Reverence for Life, he received a Nobel Peace Prize in the year 1952. He was the eighth Frenchman to be awarded the prize. He founded the Albert Schweizer Hospital in Lambarene and served as a medical doctor. The music of German composer Johann Sebastian Bach was studied by him. He was born in Alsace, which was a part of Germany. He later changed his nationality to French after World War I. He wrote a book called ‘Felix Meiner’ and also ‘Edge of The Primeval’. ‘Edge of The Primeval’ depicted the forests in Africa. The German names of the books written by Schweitzer are ‘Zwischen Wasser’ and ‘Urwald’.If you like this article, make sure to check out some more facts articles on Kidadl. You may enjoy our Albert Namatjira facts and Margarita Engle facts.Life And History Of Albert SchweitzerHis parents were Louis Schweitzer and Adele Schweitzer.His father was the pastor of an Evangelical church. His father taught him music. Gunsbach, Alsace, was Albert Schweitzer’s birthplace. He had a belief that there should be unity in Christianity. He grew up in the times of religious tolerance of Protestants and Catholics. The Alsatia dialect of the German language was his native language. He received Abitur, which is a certificate of completion of secondary education, in 1893. He received it at the Mulhouse gymnasium. From 1885-1893, he studied the organ in Mulhouse. He used to see many shows of Richard Wagner.He studied protestant theology and religious philosophy from the year 1893 at Strasbourg, Kaiser Wilhelm university. In 1894, he served one year of compulsory military service. At the University of Strasbourg, he received a degree in theology. In 1900, he was the pastor of the Church of Saint Nicholas. From 1905-1913 he pursued his study of medicine at the University of Strasbourg and obtained his medical degree. He also studied counterpart and piano under the guidance of professor Gustav Jacobsthal, apart from learning organ building.Schweitzer used to play in the organ choir, and from there, he developed an interest in music. He was a fan of Bach’s music and used to play Bach’s music in concerts. Schweitzer continued his medical practices after graduation. Schweitzer used to provide free medical supplies to African countries.Albert Schweitzer’s Contribution To SocietyAlberrt Schweitzer was a philanthropist. Schweitzer was a pastor at Saint Nicholas Church.He was a medical missionary in Africa. He provided medical services which were free of cost to the people of Lambarane in Gabon through his hospital, Schweitzer hospital. To fundraise for his hospital in Africa, Schweitzer did benefit concerts all over Europe. He was a humanitarian. He was a musical theorist and an organist who played the works of Johann Bach. His missionary work in Africa impressed people. He only spread his services rather than converting people into Christianity. He felt that the wars on the continent had the goal of expanding the empire rather than winning people’s hearts.He also received Goeth’s prize in 1928. He believed his service should be accepted by any region. His Lutheran theology was thought to be incorrect by the French missionary society. He received a doctorate in medicine after seven years of study.He was forced to resign from his post. His friends and family protested against him due to his religious views. He spent around 42 years in Lamborne. He treated many patients with African sleeping sickness. Many lepers were also under his care. Thousands of patients were cured by him. He felt guilty for European colonization and wanted to recompense for its atrocities.Schweitzer Albert also camped against nuclear arms after World War II. In 1945, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki deeply shocked him. A declaration of conscience, called Global Appeal, was launched in 1957. The committee for a sane nuclear policy was co-founded by him. Bertrand Russell and Albert Einstein were in collaboration with him for a test ban policy. ‘The Mysticism of Paul the Apostle’ was a book that reflected Albert Schweitzer’s ethical principles.Schweitzer Albert gave a speech called ’ The Problem of Peace’ at his Nobel Prize acceptance ceremony. He also gave lectures at European universities and preached his ideologies to students. He started funding his hospital in Africa by conducting charitable organ-playing concerts across all of Europe. He is often compared to Mother Teresa for his services to the poor and needy.Why did Albert Schweitzer win the Nobel prize?His fame grew as much as Mother Teresa’s and led the Nobel foundation to award him a Nobel Prize.In Oslo, Norway, in 1952, Schweitzer Albert received a Nobel Prize for peace. His service and missionary work in Africa were applauded by everyone. He was also a musician, but his philanthropic activities gained him much more recognition than his musical capabilities. He was a man of many talents. Albert Schweitzer was a pastor in his church, providing services, then he studied organ under the guidance of the famous Johann Bach. He also laboriously studied medicine, for which he had no knowledge. Albert Schweitzer specialized in psychiatric study. His organ concerts were a tribute to Johann Bach. He was also against the use of nuclear weapons in the world war and started a committee to raise his voice against them. His PhD dissertation was called the psychiatric study of Jesus. His philosophy on Reverence for Life stated that you could only attain a spiritual relationship with God if you do not hurt your fellow human beings. He wrote a book called ‘Civilization and Ethics’, taken from The Dale Memorial Lectures in 1922. Albert Schweitzer attended theological college at the University of Strasbourg and obtained a degree in philosophy in 1899.‘The Quest of the Historical Jesus’ is one of the books of Albert Schweitzer’s beliefs. In the year of 1906, Albert Schweitzer wrote ‘The Quest of the Historical Jesus’. His books on Christianity and Jesus also made him famous. The Saint Nicholas church in Strassburg was where he served as a minister. He wanted to have a closer relationship with the universe to express spirituality with Jesus. He became a vegetarian to be closer to God. He then dedicated most of his life to a relief hospital in Africa. Albert Schweitzer, with his wife, served thousands of patients in Africa. During World War I, he was called back to Europe. After the war ended, Albert Schweitzer again went to Lambarene with his wife and resumed his work as a physician, treating people.What did Albert Schweitzer do with his money?He built a leper colony at his hospital with the money he got on receiving a Nobel Peace Prize.The $33,000 cash prize that Schweitzer received as a Nobel Prize winner was not wasted on personal use at all. Schweitzer wrote books called ‘Zwischen Wasser’ and ‘Urwald’ in 1921. He used the money for the Schweitzer hospital in Africa. He was called apostle Schweitzer for his services. Schweitzer’s album was also released as a collection of his musical work. The Schweitzer album has a composition of Albert Schweitzer’s organ music. The music that Schweitzer was inspired by was of Johnathan Bach.The atomic war went against Schweitzer’s philosophy. Albert Schweitzer’s PhD dissertation was on theology. Dr. Albert Schweitzer returned from Africa in 1924 and retired as a medical missionary. In Africa, Albert Schweitzer built the Albert Schweitzer Hospital.A theologist, philanthropist, musician, and physician, Schweitzer excelled in every role that he adopted. He also wrote many books on religion and music. His nationality was French and German. He was born in Germany but later changed his nationality to French. His early life was spent in a church, as his father was a pastor. He learned music from his father as he used to sing carols in church. He also headed the church after his father. John Sebastian Bach was his inspiration in music. Schweitzer played the organ and gained popularity by following Bach’s style of music. He also wrote a book called ‘John Sebastian Bach’ as a tribute to his mentor.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! 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Albert Schweitzer was an Alsatian polymath.
