Born in Strelno, Prussia (now Strzelno, Poland), Michelson and his family moved to the United States in 1854, settling in California during the gold rush. While his father worked as a supplier for miners, Michelson attended high school in San Francisco.

Displaying an aptitude for science, Michelson applied to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Although he was initially rejected, Michelson journeyed to Washington, D.C., to appeal his case and, with a letter from his congressman in hand, went directly to President Ulysses S. Grant. Impressed with Michelson's tenacity, Grant arranged for his admittance to the Academy.

While showing little promise as a seaman, Michelson demonstrated an uncanny skill with precision instruments. After graduating in 1873, he was offered a position teaching physics and chemistry at the Naval Academy. Michelson focused his research on the nature of light. He was particularly interested in measuring the speed of...