The pioneering mathematician who made the greatest contribution to cracking the Nazi enigma code. Thereby shortening the second world war by, it is believed, at least two years and saving untold millions of lives in the process. The man whose genius and vision ultimately led to me being able to write this message and for you to read it via our computers and the internet. The shy man who was convicted of gross indecency in 1952 for being accused of and admitting to, being involved in a homosexual relationship. Who was ostracised by the government and society, then persecuted, humiliated, mentally and physically abused for his 'crime', driving him to suicide at just 41 years old. It is us who should be asking Mr. Turing's forgiveness today. And pledge to fight bigotry and hatred in his name, where ever we find it. http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/dec/24/enigma-codebreaker-alan-turing-royal-pardon
And was chemically castrated. His treatment is an embarrassment for British history. This goes a tiny way to resolving it.
The law was changed in 1967. It might well be asked why it took them so long to pardon him. What a blot on the national character when a man to whom we owe so much was treated like that. The pardon was turned down as recently as December 2011.
A man who should not be known by so few as he is. I would probably not have heard of him were I not a mathematician.
that truly horrible human waste of skin tatchell raised a good point, why not every gay/bi-sexual bloke who was convicted, why aren't they pardoned
A fellow of King's College, Cambridge, and apparently one of the founders of the modern day computer!!
The law criminalising any homosexual behaviour was wrong and it was rightly altered in 1967. However Turing should not be pardoned because there is no question that he was convicted of an offence that was illegal before 1967. You can pardon someone who is wrongly convicted but not someone who is guilty of an offence. The fact that he was a brilliant man who served his country well should not be a factor. Tatchell has a point - if Turing is pardoned why not pardon others who were convicted of the same offence?
That was the argument until very recently. By turn, the official royal pardon is an empty gesture as it will not bring the victim back or remove any persecution and pain. There is an argument for overturning all convictions as a miscarriage of justice, which it most certainly was. Good piece here.... http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/24/alan-turing-pardon-wrong-gay-men Ironically, one of the greatest contributors to the defeat of the National Socialism, falls victim to one of it's foulest prejudices. Not only that, the British 'justice' system adopts equally barbaric theories of eugenics and 'correction'. Turing should be as well known as Barnes-Wallace or any other non-combative. He is a hero of that war and saviour of Europe from Facism, without doubt.
Turing was a war hero. The law up to 1967 was cruel and barbaric and was rightly changed. The 'establishment' has long had a problem with giving Turing the praise and accolade for his work because he was homosexual. By pardoning him they are in a way diminishing and almost denying his sexuality. Now that the 'establishment' has pardoned him and erased his homosexuality it is happier about raising his profile and praising him. He will no doubt be posthumously given an award by the queen - knighted?
There was a good documentary about him either earlier this year or last year. Should hopefully get a re-run now this has finally gone through. About ******* time.
Major film due next year too with Benedict Cumberbatch. That should draw mainstream attention. It is about time true, as was the national apology during Gordon Brown's PM'ship. Still doesn't seem enough.