Alan Turing

Logician, mathematician, cryptanologist (1912-1954)

2012 marks the centenary of Guildford-born Alan Turing, described as the father of the modern computer. His life’s work included both breaking the German ‘Enigma’ code in WW2, and in laying the foundations of computer science.

Turing’s post-war work included research on the earliest stored program computers, definitions of ‘artificial intelligence’ (the ‘Turing test’) and mathematical biology.

However, in 1952, Turing was prosecuted for his homosexuality which most-likely contributed to his suicide two years later.

In September 2009 the British Government issued a formal apology for Turing’s treatment, saying ‘he deserved better’.

Image courtesy of Surrey History Centre