Jack Howlett facts for kids

Jack Howlett (born August 30, 1912 – died May 5, 1999) was a British mathematician and computer scientist. He was best known for leading the Atlas Computer Laboratory during its entire existence.

Jack Howlett was a very important person in the early days of computers. He helped make sure that scientists and researchers across the United Kingdom had access to powerful computers for their work.

Early Life and Education

Jack Howlett went to Stand Grammar School in Whitefield, near Manchester. He then studied mathematics at Manchester University. He earned a special degree called a PhD in 1944. His research was about using numbers to solve complex math problems, especially those involving changing things like heat or movement.

Working with Trains and War Efforts

From 1935 to 1940, Jack worked for the LMS Railway. He often told a story about how relieved he was when his math calculations for a new train braking system worked perfectly on a real steam locomotive. The train crew, who were a bit doubtful at first, were very impressed!

During World War II, Jack worked on important research projects. He used early mechanical computers, called differential analyzers, to solve difficult math problems. This work was used for various secret projects, including one known as Tube Alloys, which was related to the atomic bomb.

After the war, in 1948, he became the head of the Computing Section at AERE Harwell. Here, he worked on many of the first projects involving nuclear reactors, using computers to help with their design and safety.

Leading the Atlas Computer Laboratory

In 1961, Jack Howlett was chosen to be the Director of the Atlas Computer Laboratory. He stayed in this role until he retired in 1975. The main goal of this Laboratory was to give researchers all over the United Kingdom access to very powerful computers. These computers were essential for big science projects that needed a lot of calculation power.

The Atlas computer was a huge and expensive machine. Getting it for the laboratory required a lot of trust. One of the people he worked with, Peter Hall, said that Jack was able to get the computer even though the company couldn't promise exactly when it would be ready or how well it would work. It all came down to the trust between Jack and the computer company. This trust helped the Atlas Laboratory get started and allowed the Atlas computer to become well-known.

Retirement and Later Work

After retiring from the Atlas Laboratory, Jack Howlett didn't stop working. In 1978, he started a new job at ICL. He became the first editor of the ICL Technical Journal. This journal shared new ideas and research about computers both inside the company and with its users. He was the editor until 1990 and stayed involved with the journal until he passed away. He even received an award for 21 years of service, which was amazing because he started this job when he was 65!

Jack also helped write a book about the history of computing. He enjoyed translating books from French into English, especially those about computer programming and databases.

Jack Howlett was appointed a CBE in 1969. This is a special honor given by the Queen or King for important achievements. He was married to Joan and they had five children. He loved music, art, Scottish dancing, acting, cycling, and hiking. His colleagues remembered him for his bright clothes and his curious mind, which was interested in many things beyond just computers.