Douglas Engelbart

American engineer and inventor (1925–2013)
Person human Q92614
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Douglas Engelbart was born on January 30, 1925, in Portland [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. He died on July 2, 2013, in Atherton [1][8][9][4][10][11] due to kidney failure [12]. As a citizen of the United States [13], he worked as an inventor, engineer, professor, computer scientist, and presenter . Engelbart was married to Ballard Fish and later to Karen O'Leary Engelbart from 2008 until his death [14][15][16]. He had a child named Christina Engelbart [17].

Engelbart's educational background includes attending Franklin High School, Oregon State University, University of Oregon, and University of California, Berkeley [18]. His career involved working at various institutions, including Ames Research Center from 1948 to 1951 [19][18], University of California, Berkeley from 1955 to 1956 [19][18], SRI International from 1957 to 1977 [19][18], and Tymshare from 1977 to 1984 [19][18]. His field of expertise encompassed informatics, invention, and electrical engineering .

Douglas Engelbart received numerous awards for his contributions, including the ACM Software System Award, Computer Pioneer Award, Yuri Rubinsky Memorial Award, Turing Award, Lemelson–MIT Prize, and National Inventors Hall of Fame, as well as two more [20][21][22][16][23][24][25]. He was notable for his work on the computer mouse, graphical user interface, and human–computer interaction [26][27][28]. As a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and National Academy of Engineering [29], Engelbart's work had a significant impact on the field of computer science.

Throughout his career, Engelbart's innovative ideas and inventions paved the way for future advancements in technology. His legacy continues to be recognized through the various awards and honors he received [20][21][22][16][23][24][25]. With his passing on July 2, 2013 [1][8][9][4][10][11], Douglas Engelbart left behind a lasting impact on the world of computer science and engineering .

Douglas Engelbart

Summary

Douglas Engelbart is a human[1]. His place of birth was Portland[2]. He was born on +1925-01-30T00:00:00Z[3]. He passed away in Atherton[4]. He died on +2013-07-02T00:00:00Z[5]. He worked as an inventor[6], engineer[7], professor[8], computer scientist[9], and presenter[10]. He ranks in the top 0.7% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (358 views/month, #6,997 of 1,000,298).[11]

Key Facts

  • Douglas Engelbart was born in Portland[2].
  • Douglas Engelbart died in Atherton[4].
  • Douglas Engelbart was born on +1925-01-30T00:00:00Z[3].
  • Douglas Engelbart died on +2013-07-02T00:00:00Z[5].
  • Douglas Engelbart was married to Ballard Fish[12].
  • Douglas Engelbart was married to Karen O'Leary Engelbart[13].
  • A child of Douglas Engelbart was Christina Engelbart[14].
  • Douglas Engelbart held citizenship in United States[15].
  • Douglas Engelbart's professions included inventor[6].
  • Douglas Engelbart worked as an engineer[7].
  • Douglas Engelbart worked as a professor[8].
  • Douglas Engelbart's professions included computer scientist[9].
  • Douglas Engelbart worked as a presenter[10].
  • Douglas Engelbart's field of work was informatics[16].
  • Douglas Engelbart's field of work was invention[17].
  • Douglas Engelbart's field of work was electrical engineering[18].
  • Among Douglas Engelbart's employers was Ames Research Center[19].
  • Douglas Engelbart was employed by University of California, Berkeley[20].
  • Douglas Engelbart was employed by SRI International[21].
  • Douglas Engelbart was employed by Tymshare[22].
  • Douglas Engelbart was employed by McDonnell Douglas[23].
  • Douglas Engelbart was educated at Franklin High School[24].
  • Douglas Engelbart's education included a stint at Oregon State University[25].
  • Douglas Engelbart's education included a stint at University of Oregon[26].
  • Douglas Engelbart's education included a stint at University of California, Berkeley[27].

Body

Origins and Family

Born in Portland[2], Douglas Engelbart… he was born on +1925-01-30T00:00:00Z[3].

Education

Educated at Franklin High School[24], a high school[28], in United States[29], founded in 1914[30]; Oregon State University[25], a public university[31], in United States[32], founded in 1868[33]; University of Oregon[26], a public university[34], in United States[35], founded in 1876[36], headquartered in Eugene[37]; and University of California, Berkeley[27], a public research university[38], in United States[39], founded in 1868[40], headquartered in Berkeley[41]. Douglas Engelbart's doctoral advisor was John Robert Woodyard[42].

Career and Affiliations

Recorded occupations include inventor[6], engineer[7], professor[8], computer scientist[9], and presenter[10]. Fields of work include informatics[16], an academic major[43], founded in 1957[44]; invention[17]; and electrical engineering[18], a branch of engineering[45]. Employers include Ames Research Center[19], a NASA facility[46], in United States[47], founded in 1939[48]; University of California, Berkeley[20], a public research university[49], in United States[50], founded in 1868[51], headquartered in Berkeley[52]; SRI International[21], a nonprofit organization[53], in United States[54], founded in 1946[55], headquartered in Menlo Park[56]; Tymshare[22], a business[57], founded in 1964[58]; and McDonnell Douglas[23], an aerospace manufacturer[59], in United States[60], founded in 1967[61], headquartered in St. Louis[62].

Works and Contributions

Notable works include computer mouse[63], graphical user interface[64], and human–computer interaction[65].

Recognition

Awards received include ACM Software System Award[66], a science award[67], founded in 1983[68]; Computer Pioneer Award[69], an award[70], in United States[71], founded in 1981[72]; Yuri Rubinsky Memorial Award[73], an award[74]; Turing Award[75], a science award[76], in United States[77], founded in 1966[78]; Lemelson–MIT Prize[79], a science award[80]; and National Inventors Hall of Fame[81].

Personal Life

Spouses include Ballard Fish[12] and Karen O'Leary Engelbart[13]. A child of Douglas Engelbart was Christina Engelbart[14].

Death and Burial

Douglas Engelbart died on +2013-07-02T00:00:00Z[5]. He passed away in Atherton[4]. The cause of death was kidney failure[82].

Why It Matters

Douglas Engelbart ranks in the top 0.7% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (358 views/month, #6,997 of 1,000,298).[11] He has Wikipedia articles in 28 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[83] He is known by 42 alternative names across languages and contexts.[84]

He has been cited as an influence by Ted Nelson[85], a philosopher[86], b. 1937[87], of United States[88], awarded the Officer of Arts and Letters[89], specialised in information technology[90] and Elizabeth J. Feinler[91], an information scientist[92], b. 1931[93], of United States[94], awarded the Internet Hall of Fame[95], specialised in computer science[96].

He is credited with the discovery of computer mouse[97], founded in 1963[98].

FAQs

Where was Douglas Engelbart born?

Douglas Engelbart was born in Portland[2].

Where did Douglas Engelbart die?

Douglas Engelbart died in Atherton[4].

Who was Douglas Engelbart married to?

Douglas Engelbart's spouses include Ballard Fish[12] and Karen O'Leary Engelbart[13].

What did Douglas Engelbart do for work?

Douglas Engelbart worked as inventor[6], engineer[7], professor[8], computer scientist[9], and presenter[10].

Where did Douglas Engelbart go to school?

Douglas Engelbart was educated at Franklin High School[24], Oregon State University[25], University of Oregon[26], and University of California, Berkeley[27].

What awards did Douglas Engelbart receive?

Honors received include ACM Software System Award[66], Computer Pioneer Award[69], Yuri Rubinsky Memorial Award[73], and Turing Award[75].

Who did Douglas Engelbart influence?

Douglas Engelbart has been cited as an influence by Ted Nelson[85] and Elizabeth J. Feinler[91].

What did Douglas Engelbart discover?

Douglas Engelbart is credited as discoverer of computer mouse[97].

References

Programmatic citations — every numbered marker resolves to a verifiable graph row below.

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  1. 16d ago · Cl3phact0 · 2026-05-09 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Award received
    Described by source Cómo creamos Internet
    Topic's main category Category:Douglas Engelbart
    Participated in conflict World War II
    + 47 other properties edited (see Wikidata diff for full list)
    "/* wbsetclaim-create:2||1 */ [[Property:P1343]]: [[Q106109722]]"
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