Rudolf Abel was a Soviet spy born on July 2, 1903, in London, England. He was known for his role in espionage during the Cold War, particularly for gathering intelligence on the United States. Abel was arrested in 1957 by the FBI and was later tried and convicted for espionage. In 1962, Rudolf Abel was exchanged for Francis Gary Powers, an American U-2 pilot who had been captured by the Soviet Union. This exchange took place in Berlin and highlighted the tense relations between the two superpowers during the Cold War. Abel's life and story have been depicted in various films and books, emphasizing his significance in espionage history.