George Boole English mathematician and a founder of the algebraic tradition in logic. Known as the “founder of the field of computer science.”

Boole’s Personal Life George Boole was born November 2, 1815 in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England, into a family of modest means, with a father who was evidently more of a good companion than a good breadwinner. His father was a shoemaker whose real passion was being a devoted dilettante in the realm of science and technology, one who enjoyed participating in the Lincoln Mechanics' Institution; this was essentially a community social club promoting reading, discussions, and lectures regarding science. It was founded in 1833, and in 1834 Boole's father became the curator of its library. This love of learning was clearly inherited by Boole. Without the benefit of an elite schooling, but with a supportive family and access to excellent books, in particular from Sir Edward Bromhead, FRS, who lived only a few miles from Lincoln, Boole was able to essentially teach himself foreign languages and advanced mathematics.

Boole’s Work George Boole (the Father of Symbolic Logic) was probably the most illustrious academic who ever worked at University College, Cork (then Queen's College, Cork). He was not only a mathematical genius but also a fine humanitarian. A strong minded individual, he was prepared to engage in protracted and bitter arguments with academic colleagues. His revolutionary advances in mathematics are today fundamental aspects of computer science and electronics and his Boolean Algebra is used to design and operate computers and other electronic devices. The definitive biography of Boole is 'George Boole: His Life and Work', by Desmond MacHale, (Boole Press, 1985).

Boole’s Contribution to Computer Science Boolean algebra provides the basis for analyzing the validity of logical propositions because it captures the two-valued character (binary) of statements that may be either true or false. In 1930s, a number of researchers noticed that Boole's two valued logic lent itself to a description of electrical switching circuits. They showed that the binary numbers (0 and 1), combined through Boolean algebra, could be used to analyze electrical switching circuits and thus used to design electronic computers. Today, digital computers and electronic circuits are designed to implement this binary arithmetic. Boolean algebra is named after him, as is the crater Boole on the Moon. The keyword Bool represents a Boolean datatype in many programming languages, though Pascal and Java, among others, both use the full name Boolean. The library, underground lecture theatre complex and the Boole Centre for Research in Informatics at University College Cork are named in his honour.

George Boole