Who Is John McCarthy (computer scientist)? Age, Biography, and Wiki
John McCarthy was born on September 4, 1927, and passed away on October 24, 2011, at the age of 84. He was an influential American computer scientist who is best known for coining the term "artificial intelligence" (AI) and developing the Lisp programming language. His work laid the foundation for AI research and algorithms that are still utilized today. McCarthy graduated from Caltech and went on to have a stellar academic career, serving at institutions like Stanford University and MIT.
| Occupation | Computer Scientist |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | September 4, 1927 |
| Age | 84 Years |
| Birth Place | Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Virgo |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 24 October, 2011 |
| Died Place | Stanford, California, U.S. |
Popularity
John McCarthy (computer scientist)'s Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific height and weight details about John McCarthy are not widely recorded, historical photographs depict him as an average-sized individual for his time. His contributions to the field far outweighed any physical attributes, as he was primarily recognized for his intellectual prowess and innovative ideas in computer science.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
John McCarthy was married to his wife, Ruth, who he shared a life with until their passing. He is known to have had a close-knit family, consisting of his children and grandchildren who have continued to celebrate his achievements and legacy. Details about any significant relationships prior to his marriage are not largely documented, as he kept his personal life private.
The family was obliged to relocate frequently during the Great Depression, until McCarthy's father found work as an organizer for the Amalgamated Clothing Workers in Los Angeles, California. His father came from Cromane, a small fishing village in County Kerry, Ireland. His mother died in 1957.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his death in 2011, John McCarthy's net worth was estimated to be approximately $1 million. While he may not have accumulated vast wealth like some of today's tech moguls, his intellectual contributions have had a profound and lasting impact on the technology sector. His earnings primarily stemmed from his career in academia and research, which influenced countless advancements in computer science.
Career, Business, and Investments
John McCarthy’s career was marked by his pioneering work in artificial intelligence. He founded the Stanford AI Laboratory and contributed to the exploration of machine learning, automated reasoning, and robotics. In addition to developing Lisp, he worked on AI programming languages that have influenced modern computer languages. Although he did not venture into traditional business investments, his intellectual property has spurred countless startups and innovations in the technology landscape.
McCarthy spent most of his career at Stanford University. He received many accolades and honors, such as the 1971 Turing Award for his contributions to the topic of AI, the United States National Medal of Science, and the Kyoto Prize.
Social Network
Throughout his career, John McCarthy engaged with a wide array of colleagues, scholars, and students. Although not present on modern social networks like Twitter or Instagram, McCarthy's influence is felt across various online forums and academic platforms where discussions about artificial intelligence take place. His legacy lives on as professionals and enthusiasts alike recognize his contributions to advancing the field.
In the late 1950s, McCarthy discovered that primitive recursive functions could be extended to compute with symbolic expressions, producing the Lisp programming language. That functional programming seminal paper also introduced the lambda notation borrowed from the syntax of lambda calculus in which later dialects like Scheme based its semantics.
Lisp soon became the programming language of choice for AI applications after its publication in 1960.
Education
John McCarthy attended the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics. He continued his education at Princeton University, where he obtained his Ph.D. in Mathematical Logic. McCarthy’s rigorous academic training and commitment to research excelled at shaping his career and the future of computer science.
He showed an early aptitude for mathematics; during his teens, he taught himself college math by studying the textbooks used at the nearby California Institute of Technology (Caltech). As a result, he was able to skip the first two years of math at Caltech. He was suspended from Caltech for failure to attend physical education courses.
He then served in the US Army and was readmitted, receiving a Bachelor of Science (BS) in mathematics in 1948.
