Tom Lehrer songs included “Poisoning Pigeons in the Park,” “The Old Dope Peddler,” “Be Prepared” and “The Vatican Rag,” in which he poked at the rites and ceremonies of the Roman Catholic Church.

The legendary satirist who rose to fame in the ’50s and ’60s with darkly funny songs about war, politics, and society has died at 97. Learn more about him here.

Despite being best known for his humorous and satirical songs, Tom Lehrer, who died on 26 July at the age of 97, spent most of his life as an academic mathematician. His songs, hugely popular especially in his native United States, often touched on scientific and mathematical topics, earning him many fans in the research world.