John Horton Conway

English mathematician (1937–2020)
Person human Q268961
Press Enter · cited answer in seconds

John Horton Conway

Summary

John Horton Conway is a human[1]. He was born in Liverpool[2]. He was born on December 26, 1937[3]. He passed away in New Brunswick[4]. He died on April 11, 2020[5]. He worked as a mathematician[6] and university teacher[7]. He has Wikipedia articles in 25 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[8]

Key Facts

  • John Horton Conway's place of birth was Liverpool[2].
  • John Horton Conway passed away in New Brunswick[4].
  • John Horton Conway was born on December 26, 1937[3].
  • John Horton Conway died on April 11, 2020[5].
  • John Horton Conway's father was Cyril Horton Conway[9].
  • John Horton Conway's mother was Agnes Boyce[10].
  • John Horton Conway held citizenship in United Kingdom[11].
  • English was John Horton Conway's native language[12].
  • John Horton Conway worked as a mathematician[6].
  • John Horton Conway's professions included university teacher[7].
  • John Horton Conway's field of work was group theory[13].
  • John Horton Conway's field of work was combinatorial game theory[14].
  • John Horton Conway's field of work was mathematics[15].
  • John Horton Conway's field of work was number theory[16].
  • John Horton Conway's field of work was game theory[17].
  • John Horton Conway's field of work was knot theory[18].
  • Among John Horton Conway's employers was Princeton University[19].
  • Among John Horton Conway's employers was University of Cambridge[20].
  • John Horton Conway's education included a stint at University of Cambridge[21].
  • John Horton Conway's education included a stint at Gonville and Caius College[22].
  • John Horton Conway's doctoral advisor was Harold Davenport[23].
  • A notable work attributed to John Horton Conway is Conway's Game of Life[24].
  • A notable work attributed to John Horton Conway is Conway group[25].
  • A notable work attributed to John Horton Conway is surreal number[26].
  • A notable work attributed to John Horton Conway is Conway chained arrow notation[27].

Body

Origins and Family

John Horton Conway was born in Liverpool[2]. He was born on December 26, 1937[3]. His father was Cyril Horton Conway[9]. His mother was Agnes Boyce[10]. English was his native language[12].

Education

Educated at University of Cambridge[21], a collegiate university[28], in United Kingdom[29], founded in 1209[30], headquartered in Cambridge[31] and Gonville and Caius College[22], a college of the University of Cambridge[32], in United Kingdom[33], founded in 1348[34]. John Horton Conway's doctoral advisor was Harold Davenport[23].

Career and Affiliations

Recorded occupations include mathematician[6] and university teacher[7]. Fields of work include group theory[13], a branch of mathematics[35]; combinatorial game theory[14], an academic discipline[36]; mathematics[15], an academic discipline[37]; number theory[16], a branch of mathematics[38]; game theory[17], a branch of mathematics[39]; and knot theory[18], an academic discipline[40]. Employers include Princeton University[19], a private university[41], in United States[42], founded in 1746[43], headquartered in Princeton[44] and University of Cambridge[20], a collegiate university[45], in United Kingdom[46], founded in 1209[47], headquartered in Cambridge[48]. Doctoral students include Richard Borcherds[49], a mathematician[50], b. 1959[51], of United Kingdom[52], awarded the Fields medal[53], specialised in group theory[54]; Simon P. Norton[55]; Robert Arnott Wilson[56]; Adrian Mathias[57]; Jonathan D. H. Smith[58]; and Leonard Hyman Soicher[59].

Works and Contributions

Notable works include Conway's Game of Life[24], Conway group[25], surreal number[26], Conway chained arrow notation[27], Conway criterion[60], and Conway notation[61]. Things named for John Horton Conway include Conway group[62], Conway polyhedron notation[63], Conway's Soldiers[64], Conway circle[65], Conway knot[66], Look-and-say sequence[67], Conway criterion[68], and Conway puzzle[69].

Recognition

Awards received include Fellow of the Royal Society[70], a fellowship award[71], in United Kingdom[72]; Pólya Prize[73], a class of award[74], in United Kingdom[75], founded in 1987[76]; Berwick Prize[77], a science award[78], in United Kingdom[79], founded in 1946[80]; Nemmers Prize in Mathematics[81], a science award[82], in United States[83], founded in 1994[84]; and Steele Prize for Mathematical Exposition[85], a class of award[86].

Death and Burial

John Horton Conway died on April 11, 2020[5]. He passed away in New Brunswick[4]. The cause of death was COVID-19[87].

Why It Matters

John Horton Conway has Wikipedia articles in 25 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[8] He is known by 23 alternative names across languages and contexts.[88]

He is credited with the discovery of angel problem[89], a mathematical game[90]; Sprouts[91], a mathematical game[92]; Paterson's worms[93], a cellular automaton[94], founded in 1971[95]; Conway polyhedron notation[96], a notation[97]; Doomsday rule[98], a calculation[99]; and Conway puzzle[100], a packing problem[101]. Entities named for him include Conway group[62], Conway polyhedron notation[63], Conway's Soldiers[64], Conway circle[65], Conway knot[66], and Look-and-say sequence[67].

His notable doctoral advisees include Robert Arnott Wilson[102], Simon P. Norton[103], and Richard Borcherds[104].

FAQs

Where was John Horton Conway born?

John Horton Conway was born in Liverpool[2].

Where did John Horton Conway die?

John Horton Conway passed away in New Brunswick[4].

Who were John Horton Conway's parents?

John Horton Conway's father was Cyril Horton Conway[9]. John Horton Conway's mother was Agnes Boyce[10].

What did John Horton Conway do for work?

John Horton Conway worked as mathematician[6] and university teacher[7].

Where did John Horton Conway go to school?

John Horton Conway was educated at University of Cambridge[21] and Gonville and Caius College[22].

What awards did John Horton Conway receive?

Honors received include Fellow of the Royal Society[70], Pólya Prize[73], Berwick Prize[77], and Nemmers Prize in Mathematics[81].

What did John Horton Conway discover?

John Horton Conway is credited as discoverer of angel problem[89], Sprouts[91], Paterson's worms[93], and Conway polyhedron notation[96].

References

Programmatic citations — every numbered marker resolves to a verifiable graph row below.

Direct Wikidata claims

  1. [2] . John Horton Conway (1937-2020). wikidata.org.
  2. [4] . John Horton Conway, a ‘Magical Genius’ in Math, Dies at 82. princeton.edu. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  3. [9] . Genealogics. wikidata.org.
  4. [10] . Genealogics. wikidata.org.
  5. [11] . LIBRIS. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  6. [21] . E-Theses Online Service. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  7. [22] . wikidata.org.
  8. [13] . wikidata.org.
  9. [14] . wikidata.org.
  10. [15] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  11. [16] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  12. [17] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  13. [18] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  14. [12] . wikidata.org.
  15. [6] . wikidata.org.
  16. [7] . wikidata.org.
  17. [19] . wikidata.org.
  18. [20] . math.princeton.edu. math.princeton.edu. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  19. [70] . wikidata.org.
  20. [73] . wikidata.org.
  21. [77] . wikidata.org.
  22. [81] . wikidata.org.
  23. [85] . ams.org. ams.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  24. [23] . wikidata.org.
  25. [49] . wikidata.org.
  26. [55] . wikidata.org.
  27. [56] . wikidata.org.
  28. [57] . wikidata.org.
  29. [58] . Mathematics Genealogy Project. wikidata.org.
  30. [59] . Mathematics Genealogy Project. wikidata.org.
  31. [87] . Mathematiker John Conway ist gestorben. Retrieved . dailyvoice.com. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  32. [3] . MacTutor History of Mathematics archive. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  33. [5] . Mathematiker John Conway ist gestorben. Retrieved . theguardian.com. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  34. [24] . wikidata.org.
  35. [25] . wikidata.org.
  36. [26] . wikidata.org.
  37. [27] . wikidata.org.
  38. [60] . wikidata.org.
  39. [61] . wikidata.org.

Inverse relationships (entities pointing at this one)

  1. [89] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [91] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [93] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [96] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [98] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [100] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  7. [102] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  8. [103] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  9. [104] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  10. [62] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  11. [63] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  12. [64] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  13. [65] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  14. [66] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  15. [67] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  16. [68] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  17. [69] . wikidata.org. → on this site

Inline context (facts about related entities)

  1. [28] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [29] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [30] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [31] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [32] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [33] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  7. [34] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  8. [35] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  9. [36] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  10. [37] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  11. [38] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  12. [39] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  13. [40] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  14. [41] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  15. [42] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  16. [43] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  17. [44] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  18. [45] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  19. [46] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  20. [47] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  21. [48] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  22. [71] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  23. [72] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  24. [74] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  25. [75] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  26. [76] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  27. [78] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  28. [79] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  29. [80] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  30. [82] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  31. [83] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  32. [84] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  33. [86] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  34. [50] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  35. [51] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  36. [52] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  37. [53] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  38. [54] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  39. [90] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  40. [92] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  41. [94] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  42. [95] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  43. [97] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  44. [99] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  45. [101] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site

Class ancestry

  1. [1] . Wikidata. wikidata.org.

Aggregate / graph-position facts

  1. [8] . Wikidata sitelinks. wikidata.org.
  2. [88] . Wikidata aliases. wikidata.org.

📑 Cite this page

Use these citations when quoting this entity in research, articles, AI prompts, or wherever provenance matters. We aggregate Wikidata + Wikipedia + authoritative open-data sources; the stitched, scored, cross-referenced view is what 4ort.xyz contributes.

APA 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph. (2026). John Horton Conway. Retrieved April 10, 2026, from https://4ort.xyz/entity/john-horton-conway
MLA “John Horton Conway.” 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph, 4ort.xyz, 10 Apr. 2026, https://4ort.xyz/entity/john-horton-conway.
BibTeX @misc{4ortxyz_john-horton-conway_2026, author = {{4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph}}, title = {{John Horton Conway}}, year = {2026}, url = {https://4ort.xyz/entity/john-horton-conway}, note = {Accessed: 2026-04-10}}
LLM prompt According to 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph (aggregator of Wikidata, Wikipedia, and authoritative open-data sources): John Horton Conway — https://4ort.xyz/entity/john-horton-conway (retrieved 2026-04-10)

Canonical URL: https://4ort.xyz/entity/john-horton-conway · Last refreshed:

Edit History

Rolling log of changes to this entity's Wikidata record. Values shown reflect the current state of each edited property — follow the history link to see the precise diff for any edit.

  1. 5w ago · MariuszRokin · 2026-06-12 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Svkkl authority id 0365372-Conway-John-H-19372020
    "/* wbcreateclaim-create:1| */ [[Property:P9322]]: 0365372-Conway-John-H-19372020, [[:toollabs:quickstatements/#/batch/259599|batch #259599]]"
  2. 8w ago · Lesko987a · 2026-05-18 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Image needs reharvest
    Image purged at
    Image last checked license
    Image unavailable reason
    + 1 other property edited (see Wikidata diff for full list)
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/32150|batch #32150]]: P2949 Update Qualifiers"
Live feed via Wikidata EventStreams. New edits appear within minutes of being made on Wikidata.