Aaron Swartz, born on November 8, 1986, was an American computer programmer known for his contributions to the cause of internet freedom and open access. He demonstrated an exceptional talent for computer programming from a young age and became an active member of the tech community. Swartz played a key role in the development of the RSS 1.0 specification and was a leading advocate for open access to scientific literature. Tragically, he passed away on January 11, 2013, due to depression.