# Philipp Lenard

_German physicist (1862–1947)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/philipp-lenard
Last updated: 2026-11-01

> Philipp Eduard Anton von Lenard (German: [ˈfɪlɪp ˈleːnaʁt] ; 7 June 1862 – 20 May 1947) was a German experimental physicist who received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1905 for his work on cathode rays. This work led to his experimental realization of the photoelectric effect, discovering that the energy (speed) of the electrons ejected from a cathode depends only on the frequency and not the intensity of light.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 7 June 1862 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57063#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Bratislava ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57063#P19))
- **Died:** 20 May 1947 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57063#P570))
- **Place of death:** Messelhausen ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57063#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Germany; Hungary ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57063#P27))
- **Occupation:** physicist; inventor; university teacher ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57063#P106))
- **Political party:** Nazi Party (since 1937) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57063#P102))
- **Education:** Heidelberg University; Gymnasium Grösslingová ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57063#P69))
- **Spouse:** Katharina Lenard ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57063#P26))
- **Positions held:** professor ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57063#P39))
- **Awards:** Nobel Prize in Physics; Golden Party Badge; Rumford Medal; Matteucci Medal; Franklin Medal; honorary doctor of Comenius University; honorary member of the Physics Association (Frankfurt am Main, Germany) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57063#P166))

## About

As an active proponent of the Nazi ideology, Lenard supported Adolf Hitler in the 1920s and was an important role model for the Deutsche Physik movement during the Nazi period. He labeled Albert Einstein's contributions to theoretical physics as "Jewish physics".

## Questions

**When was Philipp Lenard born?**  
Philipp Lenard was born on 7 June 1862 in Bratislava.

**What positions has Philipp Lenard held?**  
Positions held by Philipp Lenard include: professor.

**Where did Philipp Lenard study?**  
Philipp Lenard was educated at Heidelberg University, Gymnasium Grösslingová.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Philipp Lenard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philipp_Lenard) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q57063](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57063) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Lenard.jpg by Unknown author Unknown author (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lenard.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Philipp Lenard, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Lenard.jpg — Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Philipp Lenard". DigiNepal. Last updated 1 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/philipp-lenard. Retrieved 5 November 2026.