Leo Szilard, a name for nuclear energy, played a huge role in the early stages of atomic research. Szilard was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1898 as Leo Spitz, whose family name soon changed later in 1900. Szilard, the son of an engineer, born into an honorable Jewish family, took up the pristine lifestyle himself. Attending public school as he grew up he became interested in physics at the age of thirteen. After turning eighteen in 1917 Szilard was drafted into the Hungarian army. Szilard, being a highly educated civilian for his age, was sent to the army's officer training school. Szilard, although suffering from a severe case of asthma, did not have to serve on active duty. After serving his country during World War I, Szilard left for Berlin in 1919 to continue his education. “In Berlin, Szilard decided to indulge his intellect and study physics in an environment filled with some of the greatest talents of his day, notably Max von Laue and Albert Einstein.” (Thomas, 2009) By 1922, with just over two years of schooling, Szilard had earned his doctorate in physics from the University of Berlin. Not long after finishing his studies, Szilard began postdoctoral work doing research at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physics. Szilard concentrated his studies on nuclear physics together with the numerous pioneers of our first scientific journey. Shortly after his studies Szilard became a lecturer at the University of Berlin before fleeing Germany in 1933. With the Second World War upon us and Hitler's rise to power in Germany in 1933 Szilard was forced to flee Germany to escape the Nazi persecution. Szilard lived in London from 1933 to 1938. During this time Szilard had worked as a research physicist at......middle of article......tedLanouette, W. (n.d.). "The Scientists' Petition:" A Forgotten Wartime Protest. Retrieved March 11, 2013, from Atomic Heritage Goundation: http://www.atomicheritage.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=63Leo Szilard. (n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2013, from the Atomic Archive: http://www.atomicarchive.com/Bios/Szilard.shtmlLetter from Albert Einstein to FDR, 3/25/45. (n.d.). Retrieved 11 3, 2013, from PBS: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/primary-resources/truman-ein45/Thomas, W. (2009, June 11). History and historiography of science. Retrieved March 11, 2013, from Ether Wave Propaganda: http://etherwave.wordpress.com/category/ewp-primer/Timeline of Events: 1938-1950. (n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2013, from Energy.gov Office of Management: http://energy.gov/management/office-management/operative-management/history/doe-history-timeline/timeline-events