Schweitzer, Albert

Schweitzer, Albert (1875-1965), German doctor.

As a student at Strasbourg University, Albert Schweitzer showed himself to be a brilliant scholar.

He studied philosophy, theology and music, and by the age of thirty he was famous.

He was known for his writings about religion, as an expert on organ building and as an organist.

He was Principal of one of the colleges at Strasbourg University but he gave up the job and studied to be a doctor.

Then in 1913 he left Germany and started a hospital at Lambarene in French Equatorial Africa (now Gabon). He had raised money to do this by playing the organ at concerts.

Schweitzer spent most of the rest of his life at Lambarene treating thousands of sick Africans every year.

From time to time he returned to Europe and gave talks or concerts to raise money for his hospital.

In 1952 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize of around $30,000 and he used the money to improve the hospital and start a leper colony.

Out of My Life and Thought: An Autobiography ~ Albert Schweitzer