Who was Alan Mathison Turing?

Alan Mathison Turing (23 June 1912 – 7 June 1954) was an English mathematician, computer scientist, logician, cryptanalyst, philosopher, and theoretical biologist. Turing was highly influential in the development of theoretical computer science, providing a formalization of the concepts of algorithm and computation with the Turing machine, which can be considered a model of the general-purpose computer. Turing is widely considered to be the father of theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence.

Turing played a crucial role in cracking intercepted coded messages that enabled the Allies to defeat the Nazis in many crucial engagements, including the Battle of Atlantic, and in so doing helped win the war. Due to the problems of counterfactual history, it is hard to estimate the precise effect Ultra intelligence had on the war, but at the upper end, it has been estimated that this work shortened the war in Europe by more than two years and saved over 14 million lives.

Turing was prosecuted in 1952 for homosexual acts. He accepted chemical castration treatment, as an alternative to prison. Turing died in 1954,16 days before his 42nd birthday, from cyanide poisoning.

In 2009, following an internet campaign, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown made an official public apology on behalf of the British government for "the appalling way he was treated”. Queen Elizabeth II granted Turing a posthumous pardon in 2013.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

Test your knowledge

What are your thoughts on this subject?

39 Comments

Iswardew Matai

The man contributed his knowledge to win the war. It shortened the war by more than two years and saved the lives of over 14 million people. As a reward they chemically castrated him. And than comes a PM who made an official public apology and a queen who granted him posthumous pardon. Pardon for what crime. Hypocrisy has also its limits

Nancy Chisholm

So sad it took until 2013 to "pardon" him for being a human being. A great mind was lost through ignorance and intolerance.

Doris Dallaire

He was a brilliant man and his worked saved so many lives. Yet intolerance was his reward. What a shame!

Teri Gallagan-Horning

There is a movie entitled "The Imitation Game", starring Benedict Cumberbatch, which is about Turing & his role in cracking the German Enigma code. It was nominated for an Oscar for best picture & Cumberbatch was nominated for best actor in a leading role in 2015.

deborahpmercer

And treated abominably!

Keith Richard Mears

A genius totally betrayed by the country that he helped to save, driven to suicide by the prudish ignorance of the time in which he lived, had he been alive today, he would have been celebrated for a genius that was at least the equal of Einstein.

lls

...what an outrage, to treat such an important person, so horribly! You would've thought he was on the Axis' side, the way he was "rewarded!"

Stephen Knapp

The Turing test is still used to determine Artificial Intelligence, which he developed. It is mind blowing to think how much further ahead we would be with computer technology if he had lived.

Ken Jackson

Iswardew Matai, He wasn't castrated as a reward for his wartime deeds, he chose castration as a punishment having been found guilty of breaking the law - homosexuality was against the law back then. That was the crime he was pardoned for.

MRogers

Iswardew Matai, evidence says otherwise. Present day is the broadest example. Hypocrisy has become a finely tuned “art”.

Jon Dodson

Christopher J Voce, Eve taking a chunk out of the fruit of the tree of knowledge is what I believe the Apple logo is about.

Ape ex

Jennifer Dyster, He is on the £50 UK bank note.

sharalp

I find this man's story to very interesting. This is the 3rd time he has come up on the QuizzClub

Felicity Spencer

Andy Renny, White South African farmers are getting murdered on a daily basis by the black people. Check it out.

Albert

Clicked the longest sentence.

Cheryl McMeekin

Great question, sad how Turing was treated.

Andy Renny

Greg Hirst, not as disgraceful and unforgivable as the way South Africa treats black people

Boyd Tracy

Obviously much more highly known and revered in England than among us Americans. That is not at all a complaint but a complement. A good opportunity to learn of things near and dear to those beyond our borders

Betsy Matthews

So sad. Rest in peace.

Kathryn Cavanagh

Yet another example of mans inhumanity to man..!! Not "just" a man, but a brilliant one who had done so much for the British and their allies.

Jennifer Dyster

He is on a bank note now I believe. (I don't live in the Northern hemisphere )

Christopher J Voce

Some say the Apple logo is a veiled acknowledgment of Turings work. Horrendous treatment of really a war hero. And took his own life by eating a poisoned - by his own hand, apple. Apple have always denied this apparently, but who knows,not only possible, but I think, probable.