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Who: H. S. M. Coxeter.

When: When I was an undergraduate.

Why: Not only was he a prince among mathematicians, but he was also a gentleman of the first rank. Several of his books also inspired me. Moreover, by transitivity, he was (for me) clearly the most influential.

show/hide this revision's text 1 [made Community Wiki]

Who: H. S. M. Coxeter.

When: When I was an undergraduate.

Why: Not only was he a prince among mathematicians, but he was also a gentleman of the first rank. Several of his books also inspired me.