Leslie Comrie facts for kids

Leslie John Comrie (born August 15, 1893 – died December 11, 1950) was a smart astronomer from New Zealand. He was also a pioneer in using machines to do complex math, which was like an early form of computing.

Early Life and Education

Leslie John Comrie was born in Pukekohe, a town south of Auckland, New Zealand. This was on August 15, 1893.

He went to Auckland University College from 1912 to 1916. There, he earned degrees in Chemistry. During World War I, he served in France with the New Zealand army. Even though he had severe deafness, he fought bravely. He lost his left leg in 1918. While he was recovering, he started using a mechanical calculator. He even changed these calculators to help with special projects.

A Career in Numbers and Stars

Comrie became the first director of the Computing Section of the British Astronomical Association. This was from 1920 to 1922. In 1923, he earned his PhD from St John's College at the University of Cambridge.

He then traveled to the United States in 1924. There, he taught at Swarthmore College and Northwestern University. He was one of the first to teach about numerical analysis. This is a field about how to use numbers to solve big problems.

Later, he returned to England. He joined the HM Nautical Almanac Office at the Royal Greenwich Observatory. This office creates tables that predict where stars and planets will be. He became the deputy superintendent there in 1926.

Using Machines for Science

In 1928, Comrie published an important article. It talked about using "punched card" machines to create data tables. These machines were like very early computers. They were much faster and made fewer mistakes than older methods. Before this, people used mechanical devices like pinwheel calculators.

In the same year, he became the first person to use punched card machines for science. He used them to figure out the main movements of the Moon. This helped predict the Moon's path between 1935 and 2000. His work made these predictions much better. Later, an American student named Wallace J. Eckert used IBM's powerful machines to make these predictions even more accurate.

Comrie was promoted to Superintendent of the Nautical Almanac Office in 1930. However, his new ways of using machines caused some disagreements with his bosses. He left the office in 1936.

Starting His Own Company

In 1937, Comrie started his own company. It was called Scientific Computing Service, Limited. This was the world's first private company focused on scientific computing.

During World War II, he led a team of 30 scientists. They used machines to help with war efforts. For example, they created tables to help the Allies of World War II with bombing calculations. After the war, he even used this technology to help computerize British football pools.

Later Life and Legacy

After the war, Comrie visited the United States and New Zealand in 1948. In March 1950, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of London. This is a very high honor for scientists.

Comrie is also remembered for his work in astronomy. He wrote many articles, both for scientists and for the public. These articles covered topics like predicting eclipses and the green flash.

Leslie Comrie passed away on December 11, 1950, at age 57. He had a series of strokes. To honor his contributions, a crater on the Moon and an asteroid called 3521 Comrie are named after him. The computer lab at the University of Auckland also bears his name.