Richard Phillips Feynman was born in Far Rockaway, Queens, New York, to Lucille and Melville Feynman. His father, a sales manager, instilled in him a love of questioning and understanding the world around him, encouraging a playful and intuitive approach to problem-solving that would characterize his scientific career. From a young age, Feynman displayed a remarkable aptitude for engineering, repairing radios and developing his own unique symbols for mathematical concepts.

After graduating from Far Rockaway High School, where he excelled in mathematics and physics, Feynman was accepted into the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Initially focusing on mathematics, he soon gravitated towards physics, finding a deeper connection to understanding the fundamental laws governing the universe. His time at MIT was marked by intense study and the development of a strong theoretical foundation.