Alan Turing

Alan Turing (1912 - 1954) was a British mathematician, logician, and widely considered the father of theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence. Turing is best known for decrypting German radio communications during World War II. It is estimated that the work of Turing and his colleagues shortened the war by several years and saved millions of lives.

In 1952, Turing was convicted of having 'gay sex,' a crime at that time. He was dismissed from his government job and faced with imprisonment or chemical castration, chose the latter. He died two years later from cyanide poisoning which was ruled a suicide, a verdict questioned by many.

In 2009, under pressure from the public and prominent scientists including Stephen Hawking, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown publicly apologized for Turing’s “utterly unfair” treatment. Four years later, Queen Elizabeth II granted Turing a rare royal pardon.