While Albert Einstein is credited with formulating the theory of relativity, it's important to note that he built upon the work of previous physicists and mathematicians. The development of the theory of relativity involved contributions from multiple scientists, and there were indeed other examples in history where individuals independently arrived at similar ideas around the same time. Here are a few notable examples:
Hendrik Lorentz and Henri Poincaré: Both Lorentz and Poincaré, working independently, developed the mathematical framework of what is now known as Lorentz transformations. These transformations describe how space and time coordinates change under different inertial reference frames and are a fundamental aspect of special relativity. Poincaré's work in particular laid the groundwork for Einstein's later development of the theory.
Jules Henri Poincaré and Albert Einstein: Poincaré and Einstein had parallel ideas regarding the relativity of time and the constancy of the speed of light. While Poincaré published his papers on the topic slightly before Einstein, it was Einstein's comprehensive formulation in his 1905 paper on special relativity that provided a unified and more complete theory, incorporating time dilation, length contraction, and the equivalence of inertial observers.
David Hilbert and Albert Einstein: In the realm of general relativity, there was a famous episode involving David Hilbert and Albert Einstein. Both scientists were working independently on the field equations of general relativity in 1915. Hilbert had made significant progress and published a paper with his proposed equations shortly before Einstein. However, Einstein's final form of the equations was more complete and correct, and he is generally credited with the formulation of general relativity.
These examples highlight the fact that scientific progress often involves the convergence of ideas from multiple individuals working independently. Einstein's contributions were significant in synthesizing and expanding upon the work of his predecessors, resulting in the formulation of the theory of relativity as we understand it today.