John Pinkerton (computer designer) facts for kids

John Maurice McClean Pinkerton (born August 2, 1919 – died December 22, 1997) was a very important British computer designer. He helped create England's first computer for businesses, called the LEO computer. This amazing machine was made by J. Lyons and Co in 1951, and John Pinkerton worked on it with David Caminer.

Early Life and Education

John Pinkerton went to school at King Edward's School, Bath and Clifton College in Bristol. Later, he studied Natural Sciences at Trinity College, Cambridge from 1937 to 1940. He did very well and graduated with top honors.

After college, he joined the Air Ministry Research Establishment. This is where he worked on radar, which helps detect objects using radio waves. He later moved with this group to Malvern, where it was renamed the Telecommunications Research Establishment. Here, he met another famous computer pioneer, Maurice Wilkes. John Pinkerton then returned to Cambridge to do more research at the Cavendish Laboratory.

In 1948, John married Helen McCorkindale. They had a son and a daughter together. His friends and colleagues described him as a kind and friendly person. They said he was a great listener and had a quiet, funny sense of humor. He was also known for his sharp mind and his ability to handle many details. Besides his work, he loved music, English literature, and good food.

Building the LEO Computer

The company J. Lyons was famous for its tea shops and cakes. But they were also very smart about how they managed their business. In 1947, they realized that computers would be very important for the future. Since there were no suitable computers available to buy, they decided to build their own!

They asked Maurice Wilkes in Cambridge for advice. He suggested they build a copy of a machine called EDSAC. He also introduced them to John Pinkerton, who was hired as the chief engineer for the project.

John Pinkerton's main goal was to make the computer super reliable. He found the parts that often broke down, like the electronic valves. Then, he created special tests to find and fix problems before they happened. This made the LEO computer very dependable.

The LEO computer started working in early 1951. By 1954, it was being used all the time. Because it was so successful, J. Lyons decided to build a second computer. They also saw a chance to build computers for other companies. So, in 1955, they started a new company called LEO Computers Ltd. John Pinkerton became the technical director there. In this role, he helped develop the next versions of the computer, called LEO II and LEO III.

By 1961, J. Lyons realized they couldn't keep building computers on their own forever. So, they sold their computer business to another company, English Electric.

Work with English Electric and ICL

After J. Lyons sold its computer division, John Pinkerton became the head of research at English Electric Computers. This company later joined with others and became part of ICL in 1968.

In the 1970s, John Pinkerton worked with Conway Berners-Lee. They created a special model to help make ICL's new computers work better and cost less. They called it FAST, which stood for "Football Analogy for System Throughput." It helped them figure out the best way to balance the computer's price and performance.

John Pinkerton stayed with ICL until he retired in 1984. He worked in different roles, helping to plan new computer products. His colleague, Maurice Wilkes, once said that even though John stayed active at a high level, he never found a job that fully used his amazing talents.

John Pinkerton also served for many years as the president of ECMA. This is a group that sets standards for computers in Europe. He helped make it a respected organization known for its good and timely work.

Retirement Activities

Even after retiring, John Pinkerton stayed very active. From 1988, he was one of the first members of the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists. He was also a key person in their Apprenticeship Scheme, which helps train young people in technology.

He also worked as the editor of the ICL Technical Journal from 1990 to 1996. His predecessor, Jack Howlett, said that John took this job very seriously. He worked hard to make sure every paper in the journal met his high standards for content and writing. He was also great at helping authors develop their ideas and organize their papers. He even helped authors get time and recognition from their managers for their writing.

John Pinkerton also helped record the history of computing. For example, he participated in interviews with other UK computer pioneers for the Science Museum.

Legacy

To honor John Pinkerton's contributions, the Institution of Engineering and Technology holds an annual event called the Pinkerton Lecture. A well-known engineer is chosen each year to give a presentation about computers. The very first lecture was given by his friend, Maurice Wilkes.