109 years ago today, Alan Turing, the father of theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence, was born in England. (7 Pics)

 

The mathematician, computer scientist, biologist, and code breaker was highly influential, especially after formalizing the concepts of algorithm and computation with the Turing machine, which can be considered a model of a general-purpose computer.

Turing famously played a crucial role in cracking the Enigma code used by the Nazis to send secret messages during World War II, which enabled the Allies to win many crucial battles. Professor Jack Copeland has estimated that Turing’s work shortened the war in Europe by more than two years and saved over 14 million lives

Despite his accomplishments, he was never fully recognized in England before he died of poisoning at age 41, because his work was under the Official Secrets Act. He also was prosecuted in 1952 for homosexual acts, a criminal offense at the time, and stripped of his security clearance. His life was portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch in the 2014 film The Imitation Game, which earned 8 Oscar nominations. England has officially apologized for its terrible treatment of Turing whose portrait is being unveiled today on the new £50 English note.