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Alan TuringEnglish mathematician who created modern computers
Date of Birth: 23.06.1912
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
Alan Turing: The Father of Computer Science
Alan Turing, an English mathematician who pioneered modern computers, can be counted among the greatest mathematical and philosophical minds in human history, alongside figures such as René Descartes, Gottfried Leibniz, Bertrand Russell, David Hilbert, and Ludwig Wittgenstein. Despite his indifference towards the race for scientific discoveries, Turing's place in the history of scientific and engineering ideas was overshadowed for a long time, partly due to certain American historians of science who prioritized their own national achievements in computer science and informatics. Nevertheless, Turing's name is well-known to modern mathematicians, programmers, and computer engineers, as they all have studied the "Turing machine" - the foundation of algorithm theory. Turing's life story is just as remarkable as his scientific achievements.
Biography of Alan Mathison Turing
Alan Mathison Turing was born on June 23, 1912, in London, England. His parents, Julius Mathison Turing and Ethel Sara Stoney, met and married in India. Turing's father served in the English colonial service, while his mother was the daughter of a chief engineer for the Madras Railway. Coming from a respectable English aristocratic family belonging to the upper-middle class, Turing grew up in accordance with the strict traditions of the British Empire.
At the age of one, Turing's mother returned to India, leaving Alan under the care of a family friend, a retired colonel. Later, he was sent to a private boarding school. Even as a child, Alan displayed a keen intellect. He taught himself how to read by the age of four and requested permission from his caregivers to read scientific books. At the age of eleven, he conducted competent chemical experiments in his pursuit of extracting iodine from seaweed. His mother worried that his unconventional interests would hinder his chances of attending a prestigious public school, but her fears were proven wrong when Alan gained admission to Sherborne Public School.
However, the strict and traditional educational environment at the British school did not foster his scientific interests. Turing remained indifferent to the subjects taught and struggled academically, facing the prospect of being denied a school certificate. In 1928, his passion for science was reignited when he formed a friendship with a new classmate, Christopher Morcom, who was also exceptionally gifted. They shared a deep intellectual connection, engaging in discussions on astronomy and mathematics while playing games during French language classes. After graduating from Sherborne, they both planned to attend the University of Cambridge, and Alan, relieved to have found a kindred spirit, looked forward to studying alongside his friend.
However, tragedy struck in 1930 when Christopher suddenly passed away at the age of eighteen. Devastated by the loss of his closest companion, Turing fell into a deep depression that persisted for years. Nonetheless, he managed to gain admission to Cambridge, driven by a strong sense of duty to pursue the scientific endeavors that Christopher could no longer undertake.
During World War II, Turing's brilliance in mathematics and cryptography came to the forefront when he was tasked with decrypting the German Enigma machine, a device used for encoding radio messages in the German military and Luftwaffe. Turing assembled a team of colleagues, including his chess-playing friends, and within a year, he developed a device called the "Bombe," which successfully decrypted most of the Luftwaffe's intercepted messages. This breakthrough significantly contributed to the Allied victory.
After the war, Turing continued to make significant contributions to computer science. In 1951, he joined the team that developed the Manchester Mark 1, one of the world's first computers. Turing focused on programming for the machine and even wrote the first chess program for an electronic computer, although no computer capable of running the program existed at the time.
Outside of his scientific pursuits, Turing was an avid runner and competed in cross-country races. In 1947, he achieved fifth place in the All-England Marathon. Despite his accomplishments, Turing's personal life faced challenges. In 1952, he was convicted of "gross indecency" after his home was burglarized by a friend of his sexual partner. This scandal, which brought attention to his homosexuality, resulted in Turing's hormone treatment as an alternative to imprisonment. As a consequence, he lost his security clearance and was barred from working on classified projects. Though he found support from his fellow professors at the University of Manchester, Turing rarely attended the university and lived in seclusion.
On June 8, 1954, Alan Mathison Turing was found dead in his home. He had taken his own life by consuming cyanide. Interestingly, the apple found on his bedside table became the iconic logo of the famous computer company, Apple. However, the apple also holds biblical symbolism of knowledge and sin. Despite the tragic end to his life, Turing's contributions to computer science, artificial intelligence, and code-breaking solidify his legacy as a pioneer and genius.
