Thomas Malthus was an English economist and demographer, best known for his theory on population growth. In his 1798 work, "An Essay on the Principle of Population," he argued that populations tend to grow exponentially while food production increases arithmetically. This imbalance, he suggested, would lead to inevitable shortages and societal challenges. Malthus's ideas influenced various fields, including economics and environmental science. His concepts laid the groundwork for later discussions on overpopulation, resource scarcity, and sustainability. Malthus's work remains relevant today as societies grapple with the implications of population growth and resource management.