William Butler Yeats · Albert Einstein Were William Butler Yeats and Albert Einstein alive at the same time? Yes. William Butler Yeats and Albert Einstein were alive at the same time for 59 years, from 1879 to 1939. William Butler Yeats was 13 when Albert Einstein was born.Albert Einstein was 59 when William Butler Yeats died, aged 73. William Butler YeatsIrish poet and playwrightBorn 13 June 1865 · died 28 January 1939, aged 73Albert EinsteinGerman-born theoretical physicistBorn 14 March 1879 · died 18 April 1955, aged 76 Karl MarxWilliam Butler YeatsVladimir LeninAlbert EinsteinAdolf HitlerRonald ReaganDonald TrumpVladimir Putin William Butler Yeats 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.