Jean-François Champollion was a French linguist of the 19th century, known for his role in deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphic writing. Through his study and comparison of the Rosetta Stone and other ancient texts, Champollion managed to identify the hieroglyphic writing system and decipher it. He discovered that hieroglyphs could represent sounds as well as concepts. His work revolutionized our understanding of ancient Egyptian civilization and opened the door to the translation of many other ancient texts. Champollion is considered one of the fathers of Egyptology, and his legacy remains fundamental in the study of ancient Egypt.