Answer
Autodidactic polymaths, like Simon Newcomb, acquire their vast knowledge through self-directed learning and intellectual curiosity rather than formal education. Newcomb, a renowned American astronomer, mathematician, and economist, exemplifies the autodidact spirit, having taught himself advanced mathematics and astronomy without attending a university. His contributions to celestial mechanics, the study of celestial body motions, earned him international acclaim and recognition as one of the leading scientific minds of his time.