Hermann Minkowski. Died suddenly of appendicitis at the age of 44. "In the early years of his scientific career, Albert Einstein considered mathematics to be

Hermann Minkowski. Died suddenly of appendicitis at the age of 44. "In the early years of his scientific career, Albert Einstein considered mathematics to be a mere tool in the service of physical intuition. In later years, he came to consider mathematics as the very source of scientific creativity. A main motive behind this change was the influence of two prominent German mathematicians: David Hilbert and Hermann Minkowski." [1] [1] http://www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Minkowski.html http://www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Minkowsk...