E.P. Thompson was a British historian and social critic, best known for his influential work in the field of social history. Born in 1924, he gained prominence for his book, The Making of the English Working Class, published in 1963, which explored the lives and struggles of working-class people during the Industrial Revolution. Thompson emphasized the importance of understanding history from the perspective of ordinary individuals rather than just political elites. Thompson was also a founding member of the New Left Review, a journal that aimed to provide a platform for leftist thought and critique. His work contributed significantly to the development of cultural history and the study of class dynamics, making him a key figure in 20th-century historiography.