T. S. Eliot was an American-British poet, essayist, and playwright, born on September 26, 1888, in St. Louis, Missouri. He is best known for his influential works, including the poem The Waste Land, published in 1922, which is considered a landmark of modernist literature. Eliot's writing often explores themes of disillusionment and the complexities of modern life. In addition to poetry, Eliot wrote plays such as Murder in the Cathedral and The Cocktail Party. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1948 for his outstanding contribution to literature. Eliot passed away on January 4, 1965, in London, England.