John Maynard Keynes (June 5, 1883-April 21, 1946) has been widely acclaimed as one of the greatest economists of the twentieth century. He brought into use such terms as the "classical" school of economic thought, and due to his writings, "Keynesian" economics. Many well-respected sources also regard his theories as instrumental in bringing about the economic growth that ended the great depression of the late nineteen-twenties and thirties.
Keynes grew up in Cambridgeshire, England. Born into a moderately prosperous family, he attended Eton, one of the most prestigious private schools in England. His father was an economic scholar, and an academic administrator at the University of Cambridge. His mother was a city official, as well as being one of the first female graduates of the university of Cambridge, due in no small amount to her marital connections. John, though not much of an athlete, excelled in mathematics, won prizes for essays that he wrote, and was considered "a scholar of the classics". He generally enjoyed his years at Eton however other notables in history who attended the school, such as Orwell and Connolly, have memories of Eton in a sharp contrast to those of Keynes in that they tend to be far more discordant.
John Keynes was quite an active man over his years. He wrote on mathematics, formulated economic policy as an adviser to the British government, was director of the British central bank, served as a representative at international conferences, such as the Paris peace conference at the end of WWI, was a college administrator at Cambridge, was editor of a major economics journal, a theatre producer, an insurance company chair, an investment trust manager, and all this while making a small personal fortune through his own investments and ventures.
The stock market crash of 1929 and the Great Depression of the 1930's opened the door for seemingly radical economic policies.