John Ruskin · Albert Einstein Were John Ruskin and Albert Einstein alive at the same time? Yes. John Ruskin and Albert Einstein were alive at the same time for 20 years, from 1879 to 1900. John Ruskin was 60 when Albert Einstein was born.Albert Einstein was 20 when John Ruskin died, aged 80. John RuskinEnglish writer and art criticBorn 8 February 1819 · died 20 January 1900, aged 80Albert EinsteinGerman-born theoretical physicistBorn 14 March 1879 · died 18 April 1955, aged 76 Abraham LincolnKarl MarxJohn RuskinVladimir LeninAlbert EinsteinAdolf HitlerRonald ReaganDonald TrumpVladimir Putin John Ruskin and Albert Einstein in bold, with some of their best-known contemporaries. Drag across to see the age each reached in any year. Faded ends mark uncertain dates.