Claude Shannon

Born on 30 April 1916 in Petoskey, Michigan, mathematical engineer Claude Shannon founded classical information theory and laid the groundwork for both computers and telecommunications. Shannon attended the University of Michigan, where he earned bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering and mathematics in 1936. He then went to MIT, where he worked under computer pioneer Vannevar Bush on an analog computer called the differential analyzer. His groundbreaking MIT master’s thesis, which linked Boolean binary algebra and telephone switching circuits, formed the basis of digital computers. After earning his PhD in 1940, Shannon went to work at Bell Labs. He started off on war-related projects, such as cryptography, and worked with Alan Turing. In 1948 Shannon published another seminal paper, in which he spelled out the basic ideas of information theory and the most efficient ways to transmit information (see Physics Today, September 2001, page 38 ). In it he introduced terminology still used today, such as bit. He also developed the concepts of channel capacity and bandwidth. In 1958 Shannon joined the faculty at MIT, where he remained until he retired as professor emeritus in 1978. Among his many honors and awards, Shannon received the National Medal of Science in 1966. He was also a member of several scientific societies, including the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. At both Bell Labs and MIT, Shannon became known for his eccentricities as well as his intellect, as he was often seen juggling while unicycling through the hallways. He was also an avid inventor who built various chess-playing machines and other devices. Shannon died at age 84 in 2001. (Photo credit: Bell Labs)

Date in History: 30 April 1916