Bertrand Russell was a British philosopher, logician, and social critic, born on May 18, 1872. He is best known for his work in mathematical logic and analytic philosophy. Russell co-authored the influential book Principia Mathematica with Alfred North Whitehead, which aimed to ground mathematics in logic. In addition to his philosophical contributions, Russell was an outspoken advocate for social justice, nuclear disarmament, and education reform. He received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1950 for his writings, which included essays on philosophy, politics, and ethics. Russell passed away on February 2, 1970.