One of the most brilliant mathematicians of the twentieth century, John von Neumann (1903–1957) was born in Budapest, Hungary on December 28. He died February 8 in Washington, DC, having created the mathematical foundation for quantum mechanics, one of three competing theories of the physics of the universe, a theory of mathematical economics, the process for creating an implosion atomic bomb, and the theory of automation.

Von Neumann studied at the University of Budapest, the University of Berlin, and the prestigious Technische Hochschule in Zurich. While in Zurich, he worked with two outstanding mathematicians, Hermann (1885–1955) Weyl and George Polya (1887–1985). In 1926, von Neumann was awarded a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Budapest and a diploma in chemical engineering from the Zurich University.

Von Neumann lectured at the University of Berlin (1926–1929) and the University of Hamburg (1929–1930). During this later period he also held a Rockefeller fellowship...