June 7th 1954: Alan Turing dies
On this day in 1954, the British mathematician and scientist
Alan Turing died. Turing is considered the father of computer science
and artificial intelligence with his invention of the ‘Turing machine’ – a precursor to the modern computer. He was also a crucial part of
England’s code breaking team at Bletchley Park during World War Two, developing ways to
interpret German messages from the Enigma machine. The work of Turing and his fellow code breakers was a great boost to the Allied war effort, supposedly shortening the war by as many as two to four years. However, in 1952 he was
arrested for homosexuality – which was still illegal in Britain –
and accepted chemical castration rather than prison. Turing suffered
side effects from the treatment and two years later died from cyanide
poisoning, supposedly from an apple found by his bed. Whilst some claim
it was accidental, an inquest determined Turing had committed suicide
due to the persecution he suffered. In 2009, following a popular online
petition, Prime Minister Gordon Brown issued a posthumous apology to
Alan Turing.“We’re sorry, you deserved so much better”
– Gordon Brown, 2009