Herman Hollerith was an American inventor and statistician best known for developing the punched card system for data processing. His invention revolutionized the way information was collected and analyzed, particularly during the 1890 U.S. Census, significantly reducing the time required to process census data. Hollerith founded the Tabulating Machine Company, which later became part of IBM (International Business Machines Corporation). His work laid the groundwork for modern computing and data management, influencing the development of early computers and the field of information technology.