John Maynard Smith: A Pioneer in Evolutionary Biology

#### Full Name and Common Aliases
John Maynard Smith was born as John Maynard Keynes' nephew, but later became known by his own name after marrying Marjorie Ruth Sherston. He is also often referred to simply as JMS.

#### Birth and Death Dates
Maynard Smith was born on January 6, 1920, in London, England, and passed away on April 19, 2004, at the age of 84.

#### Nationality and Profession(s)
He held dual citizenship of Britain and the United States, and his profession spanned Evolutionary Biology, Theoretical Biology, and Genetics.

#### Early Life and Background
Maynard Smith's early life was marked by a strong interest in mathematics and science. As the nephew of John Maynard Keynes, he was exposed to intellectual discussions from an early age. He attended Cambridge University, where he studied mathematics, and later shifted his focus towards biology due to the influence of J.B.S. Haldane.

#### Major Accomplishments
Maynard Smith's work significantly contributed to our understanding of evolutionary principles. He is best known for:

Evolutionarily Stable Strategies (ESS): His 1964 paper introduced this concept, which has become a fundamental tool in game theory and evolutionary biology.
Game Theory: Maynard Smith applied the principles of ESS to understand the evolution of cooperation and conflict among individuals.

#### Notable Works or Actions
Some of his notable works include:

"The Theory of Games and the Evolution of Animal Conflicts" (1974) - This paper laid the foundation for understanding animal conflicts through game theory.
"Evolution and the Theory of Games" (1982) - In this book, Maynard Smith applied his theories to various biological systems.

#### Impact and Legacy
Maynard Smith's work has had a lasting impact on our understanding of evolutionary biology. He:

Inspired a new generation of biologists to apply game theory to understand complex interactions within ecosystems.
Contributed significantly to the development of modern evolutionary theory, influencing fields such as population genetics and eco-evolutionary dynamics.

#### Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Maynard Smith's groundbreaking theories and contributions have made him a widely quoted figure in scientific literature. His work continues to inspire new research directions and has had a lasting impact on our understanding of evolutionary processes.