Person Wilkes; Sir; Maurice Vincent (1913 - 2010) Wilkes Maurice Vincent Sir 1913 - 2010 British Male Dudley, Worcestershire, England 26/06/1913 19130626 29/11/2010 20101129

Career: Emeritus Professor of Computer Technology in the University of Cambridge; He was a founder member of the British Computer Society (BCS) and its first president (1957-1960). Wilkes received the Turing Award in 1967, with the following citation: 'Professor Wilkes is best known as the builder and designer of the EDSAC, the first computer with an internally stored program. Built in 1949, the EDSAC used a mercury delay line memory. He is also known as the author, with Wheeler and Gill, of a volume on "Preparation of Programs for Electronic Digital Computers" in 1951, in which program libraries were effectively introduced.' In 1968 he received the Harry H. Goode Memorial Award, with the following citation: 'For his many original achievements in the computer field, both in engineering and software, and for his contributions to the growth of professional society activities and to international cooperation among computer professionals. ' Toward the end of the 1960s, Wilkes also became interested in capability-based computing, and the laboratory assembled a unique computer, the Cambridge CAP. In 1974 Wilkes encountered a Swiss data network (at Hasler AG) that used a ring topology to allocate time on the network. The laboratory initially used a prototype to share peripherals. Eventually, commercial partnerships were formed, and similar technology became widely available in England. In 1980 he retired from his professorships and post as the Head of the laboratory and joined the central engineering staff of Digital Equipment Corporation in Maynard, Massachusetts. In 1986 Wilkes returned to England, and became a member of Olivetti's Research Strategy Board. In 1993 Wilkes was presented, by Cambridge University, an honorary Doctor of Science degree. In 1994 he was inducted as a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery. He was knighted in the 2000 New Year Honours List. In 2002, Wilkes moved back to the Computer Laboratory, University of Cambridge, as an Emeritus Professor. Wilkes is reputed to have said, "I can remember the exact instant when I realized that a large part of my life from then on was going to be spent in finding mistakes in my own programs." Honours: Kt 2000 Lectures: Clifford Paterson 1990 Fellow 15/03/1956 42 References: Biographical Memoirs, Vol 60, December 2014, pp 433 - 454 Maurice V Wilkes, 'Historical Studies in Science and Technology and the Uses to which They can be Put' in NR 1999 vol 53 pp 3-10 F R N Nabarro, 'A scientist of the Commonwealth. Schonland, scientist and soldier, by B Austin' in NR 2002 vol 56 pp 396-398 M V Wilkes, 'Charles Babbage and his world' in NR 2002 vol 56 pp 353-365 ©Godfrey Argent Studio International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa 1996 ISBN 0-9696035-3-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 https://pictures.royalsociety.org/image-rs-20565 26 Jun 1913 - 29 Nov 2010 NA7245 21/11/2001 Andyg Martind 28/03/2023 RS_NET\JonathanB Yes 28730b01-8ae8-4500-8575-236b30170ff5