Srinivasa Ramanujan, Self-Taught Mathematician
Srinivasa Ramanujan is considered on the greatest self-taught mathematicians of all time. He grew up extremely poor and uneducated in Kumbakonam, India. In 1903, when he was 16, he found an old mathematics textbook in English. He memorized the book nonstop until he could easily recall every problem and solution in it. He began sending his original work off to dozens of professors and mathematicians in England, hoping one of them would take him seriously. In 1913, his wish was granted when Cambridge professor, Godfrey Hardy sent for him. Hardy tutored him and together they wrote some of the most well-respected publications of all time.
