Turing, Alan : Father of theoretical Computer Science and AI

Alan Turing:

(1912-1954)

Introduction:-

Alan Turing is best known for the decryption of the codes of The Enigma (German cipher device). He was born on 23^rd June 1912 in Maida Vale, London his father Julius Matheson Turing was a civil servant in India and his mother was Sara Turing (daughter of chief engineer of the Madras and Maratha Railway).

Works:-

Turing was one of the people who worked on the first computers. He was the first person to think of using a computer to do things that were too hard for a person to do. He created the Turing machine in 1936. The machine was imaginary, but it included the idea of a computer program.

During World War II , Alan worked in the design of the ACE (automatic computing engine) at the National Physical Laboratory. He presented a paper design of a stored program computer. “Although it was possible to build ACE, there were delays in starting the project. In late 1947, he returned to Cambridge, the pilot ACE was built without him, it was first programmed on 10^th May 1950.

 

Alan Turing statue at Bletchley park

Engagement:-

In 1941, Turing proposed and got engaged to his fellow colleague Joan Clarke (mathematician and cryptanalyst). But their engagement got to an end after Turing revealed his homosexuality to his fiancée though she was serene by the revelation, but he decided that he could not go through the marriage.

Conviction:-

One day when Turing was walking down on Manchester’s Oxford Road, he met a 19 year old unemployed man named Arnold Murray outside the Regal Cinema, he invited Murray to lunch. On 23^rd Jan 1952, Allan’s house was burgled, Murray told Alan that he and the burglar were familiar to each other. Turing reported the crime to the police, during the investigation Turing acknowledged sexual relationship with Murray. Though, homosexual acts were criminal at that time in UK. On 31^st March 1952 when Turing was convicted and he was given either imprisonment or probation, he closed the option of injections.
Due to his conviction in this crime his security clearance was removal and he was barred from continuing cryptographic consultancy for Government Communication headquarter. He was denied entry into the US, but was free to visit other European countries.

Death:- 

Turing committed suicide on 7^th June 1954 and his body was discovered the very next day by his housekeeper. Beside his body a half eaten apple was also discovered. Cyanide poising is said to be cause of death, thought the apple wasn’t tested for cyanide.

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