Enrico Fermi was an Italian-American physicist known for his significant contributions to nuclear physics and quantum theory. He was born on September 29, 1901, in Rome, Italy, and later moved to the United States. Fermi is best known for creating the first nuclear reactor, known as the Chicago Pile-1, which was a crucial step in the development of nuclear energy. Fermi was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1938 for his work on neutron radiation and its effects on elements. He played a key role in the Manhattan Project, which developed the first atomic bombs during World War II. Fermi's legacy continues to influence modern physics and engineering.