Alan Turing

Alan Turing in 1951

Alan Turing (1912–1954) was an English mathematician and founder of the science of computing, who did very important cryptographic work during World War 2, but was later prosecuted for homosexual acts, leading to his apparent suicide.

During the 1930s Turing did groundbreaking work on the theory of computing. He invented the concept of the "Turing machine", which is key to the theory of computation.

During the second world war he had a leading role in the effort at Bletchley Park to break the German ciphers, including development work which led to the construction of what was effectively the world's first computer. The work of Bletchley Park remained secret for many years after the war, but is now recognised as having had a crucial role in the British war effort.

After the war, he worked on computer design at the National Physical Laboratory in Surrey, and subsequently, in Manchester, on artificial intelligence.

Turing was a noted amateur athlete, running with the Walton Athletic Club while working at the NPL, and but for illness might have competed in the 1948 Olympic Games.

In 1952 he met Arnold Murray, who spent the night with him at his house. Later Murray helped an accomplice break into the house. Turing reported the crime to the police, who were however more interested in his relationship with Murray. Both were charged with gross indecency under Section 11 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885. Turing was given a choice between imprisonment and probation accompanied by hormonal treatment equivalent to "chemical castration". His security clearance was revoked, which meant he was no longer allowed to work on secret Government cryptographic work, even though he had worked during the war on matters of the highest importance and utmost secrecy.

In June 1954 he committed suicide apparently by eating an apple containing cyanide (although some have claimed it was an accident).

In 1999, Time Magazine included Turing in its 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century.

In 2009 the British Government issued an apology for the way Turing had been treated.

In 2011 an e-petition was raised asking for Turing to be officially pardoned, but this was turned down.

External sites

The Alan Turing Home Page, maintained by Andrew Hodges; http://www.turing.org.uk/turing/

Further reading

• Andrew Hodges. Alan Turing: The Enigma, 1992.