Von Neumann had perhaps the widest coverage of any mathematician of his time, [ 9 ] integrating pure and applied sciences and making major contributions to many fields, including mathematics , physics , economics , computing , and statistics. He was a pioneer in building the mathematical framework of quantum physics , in the development of functional analysis , and in game theory , introducing or codifying concepts including cellular automata , the universal constructor and the digital computer.
His analysis of the structure of self-replication preceded the discovery of the structure of DNA. He developed the mathematical models behind the explosive lenses used in the implosion-type nuclear weapon. He was also a member of the influential Atomic Energy Commission in charge of all atomic energy development in the country.
Department of Defense. Von Neumann's contributions and intellectual ability drew praise from colleagues in physics, mathematics, and beyond. Accolades he received range from the Medal of Freedom to a crater on the Moon named in his honor. Von Neumann was born in Budapest , Kingdom of Hungary then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire , [ 13 ] [ 14 ] [ 15 ] on December 28, , to a wealthy, non-observant Jewish family. In Hungarian, the family name comes first, and his given names are equivalent to John Louis in English.
The family had no connection with the town; the appellation was chosen in reference to Margaret, as was their chosen coat of arms depicting three marguerites. Von Neumann was a child prodigy who at six years old could divide two eight-digit numbers in his head [ 24 ] [ 25 ] and converse in Ancient Greek. Von Neumann's father believed that knowledge of languages other than their native Hungarian was essential, so the children were tutored in English , French , German and Italian.
Although von Neumann's father insisted that he attend school at the grade level appropriate to his age, he agreed to hire private tutors to give von Neumann advanced instruction. This was not something that von Neumann had much knowledge of, so it was arranged for him to take a two-year, non-degree course in chemistry at the University of Berlin , after which he sat for the entrance exam to ETH Zurich , [ 37 ] which he passed in September Von Neumann's habilitation was completed on December 13, , and he began to give lectures as a Privatdozent at the University of Berlin in Von Neumann was baptized a Catholic in In Von Neumann accepted a tenured professorship at the Institute for Advanced Study in New Jersey, when that institution's plan to appoint Hermann Weyl appeared to have failed.
