Sir John Templeton, the Wall Street investor and philanthropist who used his millions to support research at the intersection of science and religion, died today. He was 95.

Sir John held research in evolutionary biology and cognitive science on the same level as studies of the human purpose and the power of prayer. He created the Templeton Prize, for progress in religion, in 1972, as a response to what he saw as a deficiency in the Nobel prizes. Honorees include physicists Freeman Dyson and Charles Townes alongside Mother Teresa and evangelist Billy Graham. Critics, however, often argued that science and religion are incompatible, questioning scientists who accepted the Templeton Prize.

Later Sir John established the John Templeton Foundation to foster “projects to apply scientific methodology to the study of religious subjects,” according to the New York Times.

Sir John grew up in a devout Tennessee home and showed an early interest in mathematics and astronomy, watching the skies from a telescope on the family’s roof, says the Washington Post. He paid his way through Yale with poker winnings and the sale of ad space in a student newspaper he founded.

The savvy investor was known for buying extremely low — some of his initial stock purchases were in bankrupt companies, says the Telegraph — and waiting patiently until he could sell high. His stock market ventures included the Templeton Damroth mutual fund, which specialized in nuclear energy, chemistry, and electronics. Money magazine called him “arguably the greatest global stock picker of the century.” He sold his assets in 1992 to devote his time to philanthropy.

Sir John moved to the Bahamas and became a naturalized British citizen during the 1960s. Queen Elizabeth II recognized his philanthropic work with knighthood in 1987.

He died of pneumonia at a Nassau hospital.

Posted on behalf of Amber Dance