Ferdinand von Lindemann was a German mathematician born on February 23, 1852, in Munich. He is best known for proving that the number π (pi) is a transcendental number, meaning it cannot be the root of any non-zero polynomial equation with rational coefficients. This discovery, made in 1882, had significant implications for mathematics, particularly in understanding the impossibility of squaring the circle. Lindemann studied at the University of Munich and later worked in various academic positions. His contributions extended beyond his famous proof, as he also made advancements in the fields of complex analysis and number theory. He passed away on March 6, 1939.