Alan Turing

Alan Turing (1912–1954) was an Englaish 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 designing devlopment 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 very important role in the British war effort.

After the war, he continued working on computer design, and subsequently, in Manchester, on artificial intelligence.

Turing was a noted amateur athlete, and narrowly missed competing 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 His security clearance was revoked, which meant he was no longer allowed to work on secret Government cryptographic work.

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

In 1999, Time Magazine including 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 has been raised asking for Turing to be officially pardoned.

Further reading

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