Alan Turing
(1912-1954), MathematicianAlan Mathison Turing
Sitter in 4 portraits
One of Britain's most influential mathematicians and computer scientists. Born in London, Turing studied at King's College, Cambridge. Throughout the Second World War he worked for the Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park. Known to colleagues as 'Prof', he was central to breaking the German naval cipher, the Enigma. After the war he joined the National Physical Laboratory where he led work to develop a large-scale electronic digital computer. In March 1952 Turing was arrested for homosexuality and avoided a prison sentence by accepting chemical castration. His position as a government consultant was ended. Aged forty-one, Turing was found dead; the inquest ruled suicide by cyanide.
More on Alan Turing: The Icons trail: discover the people who shaped the 20th Century
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