John Maynard Smith

Date of Birth: January 6, 1920

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Date of Death: April 19, 2004

Biography

John Maynard Smith (1920-2004) was a distinguished British theoretical and mathematical evolutionary biologist and geneticist. He was born in London and educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he initially studied engineering. During World War II, he worked as an engineer, but later shifted his focus to biology, inspired by reading J.B.S. Haldane’s “The Causes of Evolution.” After the war, Maynard Smith pursued his passion for biology at University College London under Haldane. He became a leading figure in the application of game theory to evolutionary biology, developing concepts such as the Evolutionarily Stable Strategy (ESS). His work significantly influenced the fields of population genetics and animal behavior. Maynard Smith authored several influential books, including “The Theory of Evolution” and “Evolution and the Theory of Games.” He received numerous awards and honors, including the Darwin Medal and the Crafoord Prize. His contributions have left a lasting legacy in the scientific community.

5 Interesting Facts about John Maynard Smith

1. John Maynard Smith was originally trained as an aircraft engineer and worked on military aircraft design during World War II.

2. He was a pioneer in applying game theory to evolutionary biology, which revolutionized the field.

3. Maynard Smith was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1977 for his contributions to evolutionary theory.

4. He was awarded the Darwin Medal in 1986 and the prestigious Crafoord Prize in 1999.

5. John Maynard Smith co-developed the concept of the Evolutionarily Stable Strategy (ESS), a fundamental principle in evolutionary game theory.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from John Maynard Smith

1. “Biology is the study of complicated things that give the appearance of having been designed for a purpose.”

2. “The theory of evolution by natural selection is the only theory that can explain the existence of organized complexity.”

3. “In science, there are no shortcuts to truth.”

4. “The concept of an Evolutionarily Stable Strategy (ESS) has become central to our understanding of how evolution shapes behavior.”

5. “The essence of a mathematical model is to capture the essential features of a process in a simplified form.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

John Maynard Smith was a scientist and academic, so he did not accumulate significant personal wealth comparable to figures in the business world. His highest net worth likely came from his academic salary, book royalties, and awards, but exact figures are not widely documented.