Saturday 23 June 2012

Turing's Centenary

Today marks the centenary of Alan Turing's birth.
Alan Turing: 23 June 1912 - 7 June 1954
There are a huge number of articles being published online to mark this occasion, which is amazing for a man whose achievements were overlooked or glossed over for so very many years.

Here are just a few links:
http://www.turing.org.uk/turing/
http://www.ima.org.uk/viewItem.cfm?cit_id=383888 

How an adolescent gay love story changed the shape of the digital future:
http://www.polarimagazine.com/features/gay-love-story-led-invention-computer/

To mark the centenary of the birth of Alan Turing: a gallery of images from the National Codes Centre:
http://www.polarimagazine.com/gallery/secrets-bletchley-park/

The link below takes you to Letters of Note, and specifically to a letter Turing wrote to a friend shortly before pleading guilty to gross indecency:
http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/06/yours-in-distress-alan.html

UPDATE 2 January 2014
Turing receives a Royal Pardon
After some to-ing and fro-ing in Parliament, the Government worked under the royal prerogative of mercy. On 24 December 2013, the Queen signed a pardon for his conviction for gross indecency, with immediate effect. Making the announcement, Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said Turing deserved to be “remembered and recognised for his fantastic contribution to the war effort” and not for his criminal conviction.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Turing#Government_apology_and_pardon

It has always been thought that Turing committed suicide by taking cyanide - a half eaten, apparently cyanide-laced apple was found at his bedside - but at a conference in Oxford on 23 June 2012, Turing expert Prof Jack Copeland questioned the evidence that was presented at the 1954 inquest.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18561092

The Lesbian and Gay Foundation, based in Manchester, are launching The Alan Turing Memorial Award:


2012 was declared the Alan Turing Year:







Previous LGBT HIstory Project blog posts about Alan Turing:

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