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Born
Maida Vale, London -
Goes to King's College, Cambridge
Studies Mathematics and graduates with distinction -
Made a fellow at King's College
Proves the central limit theorem in his dissertation. -
Publishes paper on the Universal Machine (aka Turing Machine)
Published his paper "On Computable Numbers and an Application to the Entscheidungsproblem". Outlined computing device that is capable of performing any mathematical computation that can be represented as an algorithm. -
Goes to Princeton University
Studies Mathematics and receives PhD. His dissertation was called "Systems of Logic Based on Ordinals" and introduced original logic and relative computing. -
Worked part-time
At the Government Code and Cypher School. -
Develops the Bombe
A device for decoding German messages that are sent with the enigma. With the help of Gordon Welchman -
Proposes to Joan Clarke
She is a fellow co-worker mathematician and cryptanalyst. Later admitted to his fiancé that he was homosexual. -
Breaks the German Naval Enigma system
Assists the U.S. and the allies during the war. -
Joins U.S. Intelligence
Shared what he knew about Enigma in return for being allowed to inspect the speech encryption system being set up to allow conversations between Churchill and Roosevelt. -
Awarded the OBE
After the war is over, Alan is awarded this for his help with code breaking. -
Publishes paper on ACE
Paper has first detailed design of a stored-program computer. This is after he joins the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington. -
Publishes "Computer Machinery and Intelligence"
Includes the famous Turing Test. Is a test on how to tell if a computer is intelligent. -
Arrested
He was arrested for gross indecency and looses his security clearance. Offered chemical treatment as an alternative to imprisonment. -
Body is found in his home
His dead body was found in his home in Wilmslow, Cheshire. Death was caused by poisoning in an half eaten apple with cyanide. Body was cremated. -
Annual Turing Award established
Given each year to a person for technical contributions to the computing community. Recipients List: Link text
