Erik Fredholm was a Swedish mathematician known for his contributions to functional analysis and operator theory. He is best recognized for the Fredholm theory, which deals with integral equations and the properties of Fredholm operators. His work laid the foundation for many developments in modern mathematics. Born in 1866, Fredholm's research significantly impacted various fields, including mathematical physics and applied mathematics. He published several important papers during his career, and his ideas continue to influence mathematicians today. Fredholm passed away in 1927, leaving a lasting legacy in the mathematical community.