Neumann Janos Lajos, born in Hungary, moved to the United States when he was 27 years old, shortly after changing his name to John von Neumann. He had a profound impact on many areas of mathematics including set theory, game theory, geometry, topology, and numeral analysis. He also made important contributions to the fields of computing and physics. He is responsible for developments of the hydrogen bomb and the atomic bomb. Computers are still constructed using von Neumann architecture.
According to one publication, "von Neumann not only showed the physicists, economists, and electrical engineers that formal mathematics could yield fresh breakthroughs in their fields, but made the enterprise of applying mathematics to real-world disciplines seem glamorous to the purest of young mathematicians." ~ wrote Sylvia Nasar, Director's Visitor (2002-03)
According to one publication, "von Neumann not only showed the physicists, economists, and electrical engineers that formal mathematics could yield fresh breakthroughs in their fields, but made the enterprise of applying mathematics to real-world disciplines seem glamorous to the purest of young mathematicians." ~ wrote Sylvia Nasar, Director's Visitor (2002-03)
Here is an insightful video about the way von Neumann's mind worked:
Sources:
"John Von Neumann." Institute for Advanced Study. Institute for Advanced Study, 2014. Web. 27 June 2014. <http://www.ias.edu/people/vonneumann>.
"John Von Neumann." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 27 June 2014. Web. 27 June 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_von_Neumann>
"The Mind of a Genius: John Von Neumann I The Great Courses." YouTube. YouTube, 7 June 2013. Web. 27 June 2014. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ9tt72feL8>.
"John Von Neumann." Institute for Advanced Study. Institute for Advanced Study, 2014. Web. 27 June 2014. <http://www.ias.edu/people/vonneumann>.
"John Von Neumann." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 27 June 2014. Web. 27 June 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_von_Neumann>
"The Mind of a Genius: John Von Neumann I The Great Courses." YouTube. YouTube, 7 June 2013. Web. 27 June 2014. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ9tt72feL8>.