Science frustrated: the `Einstein Institute' in Madrid (Q857958)

The article discusses the failed appointment of Albert Einstein as `Extraordinary' professor for physics in Madrid, which he first accepted in April 1933. Representatives of the young Spanish Republic such as the ambassador to England, R. P. de Ayala, and the linguist of Madrid, A.S. Yahuda tried to harness Einstein's notoriety for their programs. Einstein had accepted too many positions in different countries at the same time, and tried to be released from his appointment in Spain without doing political harm to the then already shaky Spanish democracy. Eventually Einstein did not go to Spain and did not succeed in nominating his student Leopold Infeld in his place either, but some helpful money seems to have been granted during the procedure for the development of Spanish physics. The discussion is mainly based on correspondence between Yahuda and Einstein in the Einstein Papers (Jerusalem) and on newspaper articles, commenting on the affair.