Oscar Zariski

About

One of the most influential American mathematicians of the 20th century who originated the so-called Zariski topology. He was a professor at Harvard University in 1947 to 1969.

Before Fame

He studied at the Italian school of algebraic geometry in Rome.

Trivia

He was awarded both the Steele Prize and the Wolf Prize in Mathematics in 1981.

Family Life

He was born to Jewish parents named Bezalel Zaritsky and Hanna Tennenbaum.

Associated With

He and fellow American mathematician Benjamin Pierce were both professors at Harvard University.