1. Early Life and Background
Maurice Vincent Wilkes's early life in England laid the foundation for his future scientific pursuits, marked by a keen interest in technology from a young age.
1.1. Birth and Family
Maurice Vincent Wilkes was born on 26 June 1913, in Dudley, Worcestershire, England. He was the only child of Ellen (Helen), née Malone (1885-1968), and Vincent Joseph Wilkes (1887-1971). His father worked as an accounts clerk at the estate of the Earl of Dudley.
1.2. Childhood and Education
Wilkes grew up in Stourbridge, West Midlands, where he received his early education at King Edward VI College, Stourbridge. During his school years, his interest in technology was ignited when his chemistry teacher introduced him to amateur radio, an experience that fostered his technical curiosity and set him on a path toward a career in science.
2. Education and Military Service
Wilkes's academic journey at Cambridge University deepened his understanding of physics and mathematics, which was later complemented by his significant contributions during World War II.
2.1. Cambridge University Studies
From 1931 to 1934, Wilkes pursued the Mathematical Tripos at St John's College, Cambridge. He continued his academic career at Cambridge, completing his PhD in physics in 1936. His doctoral research focused on the radio propagation of very long radio waves within the ionosphere. Following his PhD, he was appointed to a junior faculty position at the University of Cambridge, where he became involved in the foundational work of establishing a computing laboratory.
2.2. World War II Service
During World War II, Wilkes was called up for military service. He contributed significantly to the war effort by working on radar development at the Telecommunications Research Establishment (TRE) and engaging in operational research. His experiences during this period further honed his practical problem-solving skills, which would prove invaluable in his later work in computer science.
3. Career at Cambridge University
Wilkes's career at Cambridge University was defined by his leadership in establishing and developing the university's computing infrastructure, marked by a pragmatic and pioneering approach to computer design.
3.1. Director of the Mathematical Laboratory
In 1945, Maurice Wilkes was appointed as the second director of the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory, which was later renamed the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory. Under his guidance, this laboratory became a foundational hub for computer development and research, eventually becoming the first place in the world to offer formal education in computer science.
3.2. Focus on Practical Computing
The Cambridge laboratory initially housed various computing devices, including a differential analyser. A pivotal moment occurred when Leslie Comrie lent Wilkes a copy of John von Neumann's prepress description of the EDVAC, a successor to the ENIAC then under construction. Wilkes had to read the entire document overnight due to the lack of photocopying facilities and the immediate need to return it. He immediately recognized that the document outlined the logical design for future computing machines and resolved to be involved in their creation.
In August 1946, Wilkes traveled to the United States by ship to attend the Moore School Lectures. Due to travel delays, he could only attend the final two weeks of the program. During this visit, he toured various computer research facilities across the U.S., including spending time near John Mauchly, which deepened his understanding of the ENIAC. On his five-day return voyage to England, Wilkes meticulously sketched out the logical structure of what would become the EDSAC.
Upon his return to Cambridge, Wilkes immediately began work on EDSAC, as his laboratory had independent funding. His primary goal was not to invent a theoretically superior computer, but rather to create a functional and practical machine that the university could readily use. This pragmatic approach meant he relied exclusively on proven construction methods for each component, resulting in a machine that was intentionally slower and smaller than some other contemporary designs. Despite this, EDSAC became the second practical stored-program computer to be completed and operated successfully, achieving operational status in May 1949, more than a year before the larger and more complex EDVAC. In 1950, Wilkes, along with David Wheeler, utilized EDSAC to solve a differential equation related to gene frequencies for a paper by Ronald Fisher, marking the first recorded use of a computer for a problem in the field of biology.
4. Major Contributions to Computing
Maurice Wilkes introduced several groundbreaking innovations that profoundly shaped the field of computer science, from fundamental hardware architecture to programming paradigms and network technologies.
4.1. EDSAC Design and Construction
The Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator (EDSAC) was a landmark achievement in early computing. It was designed to be a practical, functional stored-program computer for the University of Cambridge. Unlike some larger, more complex machines of its era, EDSAC utilized mercury delay-line memory as its primary storage. This choice, while leading to a serial architecture that used fewer vacuum tubes compared to parallel machines like ENIAC, was a deliberate design decision focused on reliability and timely completion. EDSAC successfully began operation in May 1949, making it the second practical stored-program computer in the world, and a crucial step in demonstrating the viability of the von Neumann architecture.
4.2. Concept of Microprogramming
In 1951, Wilkes developed the revolutionary concept of microprogramming. This innovation stemmed from his realization that the complex control unit of a computer's central processing unit (CPU) could be managed by a small, highly specialized computer program stored in high-speed ROM. This approach significantly simplified the development and design of CPUs, allowing for more flexible and systematic control logic. The concept of microprogramming was first presented at the University of Manchester Computer Inaugural Conference in 1951 and was further elaborated in a publication in IEEE Spectrum in 1955.
4.3. EDSAC 2 and the Titan Computer
The concept of microprogramming was first implemented in EDSAC 2, which also incorporated the use of multiple identical "bit slices" to further simplify its design. This allowed for processor components to be constructed from interchangeable and replaceable vacuum tube assemblies, one for each bit of the processor.
The next significant computer developed under Wilkes's leadership at the laboratory was the Titan, a collaborative project with Ferranti Ltd that commenced in 1963. Titan was notable for supporting the United Kingdom's first time-sharing system, which was inspired by the CTSS developed at MIT. This system greatly expanded access to computing resources across the university, including pioneering time-shared graphics systems for mechanical CAD.
The operating system of the Titan computer featured a distinctive design that provided controlled access based on the identity of the program, rather than solely on the user's identity. It also introduced an early form of password encryption, a system that was later adopted by Unix. Furthermore, its programming system included one of the earliest version control systems, contributing to more organized software development.
4.4. Programming Concepts and Network Technology
Wilkes is widely recognized for his foundational contributions to programming productivity, including the introduction of concepts such as symbolic labels, macros, and subroutine libraries. These developments were crucial in making programming more accessible and efficient, paving the way for the emergence of high-level programming languages.
Later in his career, Wilkes continued to explore advanced computing paradigms. He worked on early time-sharing systems, which are now commonly referred to as multi-user operating systems, and contributed to the nascent field of distributed computing. Towards the end of the 1960s, he developed a keen interest in capability-based computing, leading the laboratory to assemble a unique computer known as the Cambridge CAP.
In 1974, Wilkes encountered a Swiss data network developed by Hasler AG, which utilized a ring topology to manage time allocation across the network. His laboratory initially adopted a prototype of this system to facilitate the sharing of peripheral devices. This pioneering work eventually led to commercial partnerships, and similar network technology became widely available throughout the UK, significantly influencing the development of local area networks like the Cambridge Ring.
5. Awards and Honors
Maurice Wilkes received numerous prestigious awards, fellowships, and honors throughout his career, recognizing his profound and lasting impact on the field of computer science.
5.1. Major Awards and Accolades
Wilkes received a multitude of distinctions, reflecting his significant contributions to computing. He was a Knight Bachelor, a Distinguished Fellow of the British Computer Society (DFBCS), a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, and a Fellow of the Royal Society (elected in 1956).
In 1967, he was awarded the prestigious Turing Award by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). The citation specifically recognized him "as the builder and designer of the EDSAC, the first computer with an internally stored program. Built in 1949, the EDSAC used a mercury delay-line memory." The award also acknowledged his co-authorship, with David Wheeler and Stanley Gill, of the 1951 volume Preparation of Programs for Electronic Digital Computers, which effectively introduced the concept of program libraries.
In 1968, Wilkes received the Harry H. Goode Memorial Award from the IEEE Computer Society. This award honored him "for his many original achievements in the computer field, both in engineering and software, and for his contributions to the growth of professional society activities and to international cooperation among computer professionals."
His contributions were further recognized with several honorary Doctor of Science degrees, including from Newcastle University in 1972, the University of Bath in 1987, and the University of Cambridge itself in 1993. In 1981, he was awarded the Faraday Medal by the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE). The Maurice Wilkes Award, an annual accolade for outstanding contributions to computer architecture by a young computer scientist or engineer, is named in his honor.
Wilkes was inducted as a Fellow of the ACM in 1994. He received the Mountbatten Medal in 1997 and delivered the inaugural Pinkerton Lecture in 2000. For his distinguished service, he was knighted in the 2000 New Year Honours List. In 2001, he was inducted as a Fellow of the Computer History Museum "for his contributions to computer technology, including early machine design, microprogramming, and the Cambridge Ring network." In 2002, he returned to the Computer Laboratory at the University of Cambridge as an Emeritus Professor. He also received the C&C Prize in 1988 and the Kyoto Prize in Advanced Technology in 1992.
5.2. Academic Activities and Leadership
Beyond his direct technical contributions, Wilkes played a crucial role in shaping the academic and professional landscape of computer science. He was a founder member of the British Computer Society (BCS) and served as its first president from 1957 to 1960. After retiring from his professorships and his role as head of the Computer Laboratory in 1980, he joined the central engineering staff of Digital Equipment Corporation in Maynard, Massachusetts, US. In 1986, he returned to England and became a member of Olivetti's Research Strategy Board, continuing to influence research strategy in the computing industry.
6. Personal Life
Maurice Wilkes married Nina Twyman, a classicist, in 1947. Their marriage lasted over six decades until Nina's death in 2008. Maurice Wilkes passed away in 2010, survived by his son, Anthony, and two daughters, Margaret and Helen.
7. Memoirs and Reflections
In his memoirs, Memoirs of a Computer Pioneer, Maurice Wilkes shared a profound realization about the nature of computer programming that resonated with countless programmers who followed. He vividly recalled the moment he understood the pervasive challenge of debugging, stating, "I well remember when this realization first came on me with full force. The EDSAC was on the top floor of the building and the tape-punching and editing equipment one floor below. ... It was on one of my journeys between the EDSAC room and the punching equipment that 'hesitating at the angles of stairs' the realization came over me with full force that a good part of the remainder of my life was going to be spent in finding mistakes in my own programs."
He further elaborated on this early insight, reflecting on the collective dawning realization among pioneers in 1949 that getting programs to run correctly was far more challenging than initially anticipated. He noted that even Alan Turing had discussed "verification of large routines" at conferences, suggesting a shared awareness of this fundamental problem. Wilkes's reflection captures the essence of debugging-a task often frustrating but essential-and highlights his early recognition of its central role in the nascent field of computer programming.
8. Legacy and Impact
Sir Maurice Wilkes's legacy is deeply embedded in the foundations of modern computing. His pragmatic approach to building the EDSAC, prioritizing functionality and timely completion, demonstrated the viability of stored-program computers and set a precedent for practical engineering in computer science. The EDSAC's influence extended globally, inspiring the design of other early machines and demonstrating the utility of computers for scientific problems, such as its pioneering use in biology.
His invention of microprogramming revolutionized CPU design by simplifying complex control logic, a concept that became fundamental to virtually all subsequent computer architectures. The development of EDSAC 2, which implemented microprogramming and introduced "bit slices," showcased innovative hardware design principles. The Titan computer, under his leadership, pioneered time-sharing systems in the UK, making computing resources more accessible and fostering the development of interactive applications like computer-aided design. Titan's operating system also introduced advanced features like program-based access control, password encryption, and early version control, elements that became standard in modern operating systems like Unix.
Wilkes's contributions to programming concepts, including symbolic labels, macros, and subroutine libraries, were instrumental in making programming more efficient and laid the groundwork for the development of high-level programming languages. His later work on distributed computing and capability-based security, exemplified by the Cambridge CAP computer, explored advanced paradigms that continue to be relevant in contemporary computer science. Furthermore, his involvement in the development and popularization of ring topology networks, such as the Cambridge Ring, significantly influenced the evolution of local area network technologies.
Beyond his technical innovations, Wilkes played a crucial role in establishing computer science as an academic discipline. As the long-standing director of the Cambridge Computer Laboratory, he fostered an environment of practical research and education, shaping the careers of many future computer scientists. His leadership in professional organizations like the British Computer Society further cemented his influence on the global computing community. Maurice Wilkes's work stands as a testament to the power of foundational research and its lasting impact on the digital age.
9. Major Publications
- Oscillations of the Earth's Atmosphere (1949), Cambridge University Press
- Preparation of Programs for an Electronic Digital Computer (1951), with D. J. Wheeler and S. Gill, Addison Wesley Press
- Automatic Digital Computers (1956), Methuen Publishing
- A Short Introduction to Numerical Analysis (1966), Cambridge University Press
- Time-sharing Computer Systems (1968), Macdonald
- The Cambridge CAP Computer and its Operating System (1979), with R. M. Needham, Elsevier
- Memoirs of a Computer Pioneer (1985), MIT Press
- Computing Perspectives (1995), Morgan Kaufmann Publishers