The equation E=mc2, which has been forever linked to Einstein and his Theory of Relativity, was not originally published by Einstein. This famous equation was first published by Olinto De Pretto, an industrialist from Vicenza, two years prior to Einstein's publishing of the equation. In 1903 De Pretto published his equation in the scientific magazine Atte and in 1904 it was republished by the Royal Science Institute of Veneto. Einstein's research was not published until 1905.
De Pretto was the first to introduce the formula, although it was Einstein who connected it with the Theory of Relativity. Many people at the time were so busy trying to understand Einstein's theory that they seemed to forget that it was De Pretto who initiated the whole process. Einstein himself failed to credit De Pretto with formulating the equation. As the 20th century came to a close, Einstein was given the honor of Science's Man of the Century. This would have been impossible without De Pretto.
No one will ever know with certainty if Einstein intentionally passed De Pretto's equation off as his own, but evidence does suggest he may have done just that. Einstein was well-versed in Italian and even lived in Northern Italy for a brief time. He was very familiar with the work of many Italian scientists; he enjoyed studying their beliefs and theories, and he most likely was familiar with both of the magazines which published De Pretto's equation.
References:
• Olinto De Pretto (Ipotesi dell'etere nella vita dell'universo, November 23, 1903)
