John Nash
John Forbes Nash Jr. (1928-2015) was an American mathematician renowned for his groundbreaking work in game theory, differential geometry, and partial differential equations. Born on June 13, 1928, in Bluefield, West Virginia, Nash displayed an early aptitude for mathematics. He attended the Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University), where he earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees in mathematics by 1948. Nash then moved to Princeton University, where he completed his Ph.D. with a dissertation on non-cooperative games, introducing the Nash equilibrium— a concept that has become central in economic theory.
In the 1950s, Nash's brilliant career was interrupted by a severe struggle with schizophrenia, which led to extended hospitalizations and periods of instability. Despite his struggles, Nash continued to make significant contributions to mathematics. His work in game theory earned him the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1994, marking a remarkable comeback both personally and professionally.
Nash's life and the challenges he faced were dramatized in the 2001 film "A Beautiful Mind," which brought his story to a wider audience. He continued to inspire mathematicians and economists until his death in a car accident on May 23, 2015. Nash's legacy endures through the influential theories and concepts he developed, which remain vital to various fields of study.