W. Daniel Quillen

Daniel Gray Quillen was an American mathematician renowned for his foundational contributions to algebraic K-theory, algebraic topology, and related fields, earning the Fields Medal in 1978.[1][3][5] Born in Orange, New Jersey, to a chemical engineer turned physics teacher, he transformed modern mathematics through innovations like higher algebraic K-theory and proofs of key conjectures using algebraic geometry.[1][2][5] Quillen held positions at Harvard and Oxford, continuing to influence algebra, geometry, and topology until his death in 2011.[3][4]

Orange, New Jersey, USA Jun 27, 1940
Algebraic K-theory Algebraic topology