Robert King Merton was an American sociologist whose diverse interests included the sociology of science and the professions, sociological theory, and mass communication. In 1994 Merton won the National Medal of Science for his contributions to the field and for having founded the sociology of science. Robert K. Merton was born on July 4, 1910, in Philadelphia into a working class Eastern European Jewish Immigrant family. Merton attended Temple College for undergraduate work and Harvard for graduate work, studying sociology at both and earning his doctorate degree in 1936. He was one of the key figures in the development of the Department of Sociology at Columbia University and in received national and international recognition for his contributions to sociological analysis. He died on February 23, 2003 (aged 92) in New York City, New York, United States.