George Santayana was a Spanish-American philosopher, essayist, poet, and novelist. He was born in 1863 in Spain and later moved to the United States, becoming a professor of philosophy at Harvard University. Santayana's philosophical works often explored the realms of aesthetics, cultural critique, metaphysics, and ethics. His most famous work is 'The Life of Reason,' a series of five books that delve into human nature, society, and the principles of reasoning. Santayana's writings have influenced various fields, including philosophy, literature, and education.