John Mauchly was an American physicist and computer scientist, best known for his role in developing the first general-purpose electronic computer, the ENIAC. Born on August 30, 1907, he contributed significantly to the field of computing during the mid-20th century. Mauchly co-founded the Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation with J. Presper Eckert, where they created the UNIVAC, the first commercially available computer. His work laid the foundation for modern computing, influencing future technologies and computer design. Mauchly passed away on January 8, 1980, leaving a lasting legacy in the world of computers.