The Early Years and Unveiling a Genius
In the quiet market town of Macclesfield, in the rolling hills of Cheshire, England, a child of extraordinary intellectual promise was born on June 23, 1912. The world would come to know him as Alan Turing, an individual who would significantly shape the course of human history and become an icon of the LGBTQ+ community.
Alan Mathison Turing, the second son of Julius Mathison Turing and Ethel Sara Stoney, was always marked by an exceptional mind. His educational journey began at St Michael’s, a day school in his hometown, where his incredible mental prowess became apparent. Later, he attended Sherborne School, a renowned public institution, which he reached by cycling over 60 miles alone, defying a general strike that had paralysed the country’s public transportation.
His fascination with the world of numbers and patterns soon led him to study Mathematics at King’s College, Cambridge. In 1935, at just 23, Turing was elected a fellow at the college for his ground-breaking paper “On Computable Numbers,” which introduced the concept of ‘Turing machines.’ Little did he know then that this idea would form the basis for modern-day computers.
In 1936, Turing travelled to Princeton University in the United States for his Ph.D., where he continued his work on theoretical computation. It was here that he began to contemplate the idea of a ‘Universal Machine’ – a single machine that could carry out the tasks of any other machine. This was the dawn of the ‘stored-program’ concept, which has become the bedrock of today’s computing technology.
Yet, for all his intellectual achievements, Turing’s life wasn’t solely about academics and computers. Turing was a person of depth and diversity, and his personal relationships played an integral part in shaping his life and his representation of the LGBTQ+ community. In his youth, at Sherborne School, he developed a profound friendship with a boy named Christopher Morcom. They shared intellectual interests, and it was Christopher who sparked Turing’s interest in Einstein’s work. The depth of his feelings for Christopher became evident when, tragically, his friend died in 1930 due to bovine tuberculosis.
Turing was devastated by this loss. His grief was compounded by the awareness of the romantic feelings he had begun to develop for Christopher. At a time when homosexuality was considered a crime and a mental illness, this presented a profound personal challenge for Turing. Yet, he was brave and did not choose to suppress his feelings. Instead, he found a certain solace and inspiration in his unfulfilled love. He wrote to Christopher’s mother: “I know I must put as much energy if not as much interest into my work as if he were alive because that is what he would like me to do.”
In the midst of personal anguish, Turing channelled his grief into his work, throwing himself further into the world of numbers, codes, and machines. Yet, he never denied who he was, a testament to his immense courage. Little did he know then that his groundbreaking contributions to the field of computing and cryptography and his open defiance of societal norms around sexuality would cement his legacy as a pioneering figure of the 20th century.
To understand the life and accomplishments of Alan Turing is to acknowledge the myriad complexities of a man who was far ahead of his time, not just in his work but in his personal convictions. His story is one of brilliance and bravery, of love and loss, and of an unyielding authenticity that spoke volumes about his character. His journey, which started as a curious boy fascinated with numbers in Macclesfield, was taking him to places he never imagined – in science and society, in love and law. It was a journey
World War II and The Enigma Code
As Turing’s career soared in academia, a dark shadow loomed over Europe. World War II had begun, and Turing’s unique skill set was summoned to the front line of Britain’s defence, not as a soldier, but as a codebreaker. In 1939, he was recruited to the Government Code and Cypher School (GC&CS) based at Bletchley Park. The challenge at hand? Deciphering the Enigma – a complex encryption machine used by the Nazis to secure their military communications. The Enigma posed an unprecedented obstacle; its daily-changing settings offered an astounding 159 million million million possible configurations.
With his characteristic determination, Turing began tackling this problem. He and his team of codebreakers, including notable figures like Gordon Welchman and Joan Clarke, developed a device named the Bombe – a sophisticated electro-mechanical machine built upon the earlier Polish work with the Enigma. The Bombe was designed to reduce the vast number of possible settings the Enigma could use each day, aiding in deciphering its coded messages.
The success of this project was a crucial turning point in the war. By cracking the Enigma, Turing and his team at Bletchley Park saved countless lives and potentially shortened the war by several years. Despite his outstanding contribution, Turing’s wartime work remained a closely guarded secret for many years due to the Official Secrets Act.
Parallel to these historical events, Turing’s personal life was also evolving. At Bletchley Park, he formed a close bond with fellow codebreaker Joan Clarke, a relationship that straddled the line between friendship and romance. Joan was one of the few women working at Bletchley Park, and her intellectual capabilities matched Turing’s. They shared a unique camaraderie and mutual respect. In 1941, Turing proposed marriage to Joan, and she accepted.
However, Turing’s proposal was not a reflection of a traditional romantic inclination but rather an emotional connection and intellectual kinship. Turing was a gay man in a society where homosexuality was a criminal offence, a truth he did not hide from Joan. He was honest about his sexual orientation with her, and despite this, Joan decided to continue their engagement. Eventually, the engagement was mutually and amicably called off, but their friendship remained intact, displaying an example of acceptance and respect that was sadly lacking in wider society of the time.
Turing’s work during the war and his relationships shone a light on the immense potential that lay in diversity and acceptance. His genius paved the way for the development of modern computing and significantly contributed to winning a world war. His open approach to his sexuality, especially in his relationship with Joan Clarke, represented a beacon of hope and courage for the LGBTQ+ community. However, this was a time when societal acceptance was a far cry from reality, and the same society that had immensely benefited from Turing’s intellect was about to turn against him. Turing’s next chapter was one of both triumph and tribulation, as the post-war world awaited.
Triumph, Tribulation, and Legacy
After the war, Turing’s intellectual curiosity took him to the National Physical Laboratory, where he led the design work for the Automatic Computing Engine (ACE). His plans were the most detailed design yet for a stored-program computer, making ACE one of the first realisations of his earlier theoretical ‘Universal Turing Machine.’
However, the slow progress and administrative issues led Turing to the University of Manchester in 1948. Here, he continued his pioneering work in the burgeoning field of computer science, developing the Manchester computers and becoming interested in mathematical biology, particularly morphogenesis. He published a seminal paper on the subject, showcasing his incredible ability to jump between fields and leave a lasting impact.
Yet, amid these professional triumphs, Turing’s personal life took a devastating turn. In 1952, he was arrested and prosecuted for ‘gross indecency’ due to his sexual relationship with a young man named Arnold Murray. Turing, being a man of unwavering honesty, didn’t deny the charges. Given the choice between imprisonment and probation with hormonal treatment designed to suppress his sexual urges – essentially chemical castration – Turing chose the latter.
This was a period of profound tragedy and injustice for Turing, one of the brightest minds of the 20th century. In an intensely homophobic society, Turing’s openness about his sexuality was met with punishment rather than understanding. Despite his immeasurable contributions to the world, he was forced to endure humiliating treatments and social ostracisation.
In 1954, just two weeks before his 42nd birthday, Alan Turing was found dead in his home, a half-eaten apple by his side. The cause of death was determined to be cyanide poisoning, and it was ruled a suicide, though some controversy remains. An inquest concluded he had taken his own life, unable to live in a world that rejected his true self.
Despite his tragic end, Alan Turing’s legacy endures. His pioneering work in theoretical computer science, his role in cracking the Enigma code, and his later interest in mathematical biology have solidified his status as a titan of the STEM field. He is rightly celebrated as the father of modern computing and artificial intelligence.
Yet, Turing’s life signifies more than scientific and mathematical breakthroughs. His unwavering honesty about his homosexuality, his relationships with Christopher Morcom and Joan Clarke, and his struggle in a repressive society make him an iconic figure in the LGBTQ+ community. Turing’s story is a poignant reminder of the extraordinary contributions made by LGBTQ+ individuals to our world, and the importance of fostering diversity and inclusion in all fields, especially in STEM.
In 2013, after many years of campaigning by supporters around the globe, Queen Elizabeth II granted Turing a posthumous royal pardon. Later, in 2017, the ‘Alan Turing Law’ was passed, pardoning men cautioned or convicted under historical legislation that outlawed homosexual acts. His image now graces the new £50 note in the UK, a belated recognition of his immense contributions to society.
Turing’s life embodies a testament to personal courage and authenticity, a legacy that stretches beyond his scientific achievements. His story stands as a beacon of hope, encouraging every individual to embrace who they are, irrespective of societal norms. It’s a call for society to ensure no other person must endure the persecution Turing faced, reminding us that it’s our differences that foster innovation, drive progress, and ultimately, shape the world.
