József Bolyai was a Hungarian mathematician born on December 15, 1802, in Marosvásárhely, now part of Romania. He is best known for his work in non-Euclidean geometry, which challenged the long-held beliefs of classical geometry established by Euclid. Bolyai independently developed a system of geometry that did not rely on the parallel postulate, leading to significant advancements in mathematical thought. Bolyai's groundbreaking ideas were published in his work titled "Appendix Scientiam Spatii," which he included in his father's book in 1832. His contributions laid the foundation for later mathematicians, including Bernhard Riemann and Henri Poincaré, who further explored the implications of non-Euclidean geometry. Bolyai passed away on January 27, 1860.