Profile of the Day: Alan Turing
Today we remember mathematician Alan Turing, who was born on June 23, 1912 in London, England. During World War II, Turing played a vital role in deciphering the messages encrypted by the German’s Enigma machine, providing vital intelligence for the Allies which enabled the Nazi’s defeat in several crucial battles. After the war, he continued his work with computers, developing the first designs for a stored-program computer. His work was groundbreaking and laid the groundwork for computers today, earning him the distinction of the father of artificial intelligence.
Despite his ingenious breakthroughs, Turing was arrested and charged with indecency in 1952 due to his sexual orientation. To avoid imprisonment, Turing opted to undergo hormonal treatment to reduce his libido. He was stripped of his security clearance and barred from continuing his work. Sadly, he committed suicide on June 7, 1954.