Cuthbert Hurd

Cuthbert Corwin Hurd ( born April 5, 1911 in Estherville, Iowa; † 22 May 1996 San Mateo, California ) was an American computer entrepreneur, manager and applied mathematicians.

Hurd studied mathematics at the Drake University (whose honorary doctorate in 1967 he received ) with a bachelor's degree in 1932 at Iowa State College with a master's degree in 1934 and in 1936 received his doctorate at the University of Illinois in mathematics at Waldemar Trjitzinsky ( " Asymptotic theory of linear differential equations singular in the variable of differentiation and in a parameter). As a post - graduate student he was at Columbia University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1936-1942 he was Assistant Professor at Michigan State University. During World War II, he taught at mathematics the Coast Guard Academy. 1945-1947 he was dean of Allegheny College and then as a mathematician for Union Carbide at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. he was assistant to Alston Scott Householder and oversaw the use of early computer such as the IBM 602 and later the IBM 604 in the in nuclear technology resulting numerical calculations.

Dissatisfied with the performance of this machine he made when he moved to IBM in 1949, where he established the Applied Science Division ( IBM was looking for customers in the technical- scientific field and their needs explored ), pressure on the reluctant management to advance the development of their electronic computer. He won support thereby from John von Neumann himself, with whom he became friends. Result was initially 1949, the Card Program Calculator ( CPC), which made it possible, for example a 604 with punch cards to program rather than by box drawers. He also urged Thomas J. Watson, the first electronic, general-purpose computers from IBM, the IBM to develop 701. He also pushed the development of the mainframe IBM 650 series, which was delivered in 1953. In 1955 he became the head of the Department of Electronic calculating machines at IBM. In this capacity he came to the project also stretch after he became aware of the need for a supercomputer in an interview with Edward Teller at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

In 1962, he left IBM and became head of the first independent software company Computer Usage Company, and was its president from 1970 to 1974. He has advised several Silicon Valley companies. 1978 to 1986 he was CEO of with which he founded Picodyne Corporation and 1983 he was co-founder of Quintus Computer Systems, which a Prolog compiler marketed (it was in 1989 sold to the Intergraph Corporation).

In retirement, he focused on gardening and botany.

In 1986, he received the Computer Pioneer Award.