Which famous scientist developed the theory of general relativity?

The theory of general relativity, which fundamentally changed our understanding of gravity and the structure of space-time, was developed by Albert Einstein. This groundbreaking theory, published in 1915, describes gravity not as a traditional force but as a curvature of space-time caused by mass. Einstein's work provided critical insights into the behavior of large celestial bodies and predicted phenomena such as the bending of light by gravity, which has been confirmed through various experiments and observations.

Isaac Newton, while critical to the development of classical mechanics and the early understanding of gravitational forces through his law of universal gravitation, laid the groundwork for later theories rather than developing the concept of general relativity. Galileo Galilei made significant contributions to physics and astronomy, but his work predated Einstein’s theories and mainly focused on the motion of objects and the heliocentric model of the solar system. Nicolaus Copernicus was pivotal in promoting the idea that the Earth orbits the Sun, which helped to shift the paradigms of astronomy but did not contribute to theories related to gravity or space-time.

Thus, the significance of Einstein's contributions, particularly with general relativity, places him squarely as the correct answer to the question.