# Jim Gray

> American computer scientist (1944–2007/2012)

**Wikidata**: [Q92606](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q92606)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Gray_(computer_scientist))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/jim-gray

## Summary

Jim Gray, born January 12, 1944 in San Francisco, was a computer scientist who worked in the field of computer science. He received numerous prestigious awards including the Turing Award, ACM Software System Award, SIGMOD Edgar F. Codd Innovations Award, ACM Fellow, honorary doctor of Paris Dauphine University, and Charles Babbage Award[1][2][3][4][5][6][7].He was elected to several major scientific organizations, including the National Academy of Sciences, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Association for Computing Machinery[8]. Gray died at sea on January 28, 2012[9].

## Summary
Jim Gray (1944–2012) was an American computer scientist and a seminal figure in the fields of databases and transaction processing. He is most recognized for his foundational contributions that enabled large-scale, reliable data systems, for which he received the 1998 Turing Award. Gray worked as a researcher at major technology corporations, including IBM, Digital Equipment Corporation, and Microsoft.

## Biography
- **Born**: 1944-01-12, San Francisco, California
- **Nationality**: United States
- **Education**: 
    - Bachelor of Science, applied mathematics, University of California, Berkeley (1966)
    - Master of Science, Courant Institute School of Mathematics, Computing, and Data Science
    - Doctor of Philosophy, computer science, University of California, Berkeley (1969)
- **Known for**: Foundational contributions to database and transaction processing research.
- **Employer(s)**: Microsoft (1995-2007), Digital Equipment Corporation, Bell Labs, IBM
- **Field(s)**: Computer science

## Contributions
Jim Gray's career was marked by significant contributions to the architecture and implementation of database and transaction processing systems. His work at companies like IBM, Bell Labs, Digital Equipment Corporation, and Microsoft was instrumental in translating theoretical computer science concepts into robust, industrial-strength systems that became the backbone of modern data management.

His research led to key concepts in database systems, including transaction models, multi-version concurrency control, and the five-minute rule for data storage. These ideas were pivotal in the development of reliable, high-performance systems capable of handling immense workloads, which are fundamental to e-commerce, banking, and enterprise data management. In 1998, he was awarded the Turing Award for his "seminal contributions to database and transaction processing research and technical leadership in system implementation." His work was also recognized with the ACM Software System Award in 1988 and the SIGMOD Edgar F. Codd Innovations Award in 1993, highlighting his profound and lasting impact on the software and systems that manage the world's data.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Jim Gray most famous for?
A: Jim Gray is most famous for his pioneering research in database systems and transaction processing. His work laid the groundwork for modern, reliable data management systems, and he was awarded the Turing Award in 1998 for these contributions.

### Q: What happened to Jim Gray?
A: Jim Gray disappeared at sea on January 28, 2007, while on a solo sailing trip to the Farallon Islands. After an extensive search failed to find him, he was declared legally dead on January 28, 2012.

### Q: What was the Turing Award given to Jim Gray for?
A: Jim Gray received the 1998 Turing Award for his "seminal contributions to database and transaction processing research and technical leadership in system implementation." This award recognized his foundational work that enabled the creation of large-scale, reliable database systems.

## Why They Matter
Jim Gray's work is fundamental to the modern digital world. His innovations in transaction processing—ensuring that database operations complete fully or not at all—are a cornerstone of reliability in virtually every critical computer system, from ATM transactions to airline reservations and online retail. Without his contributions, the scalable and dependable e-commerce and financial systems we rely on today would not be possible.

Gray had a unique ability to bridge the gap between academic theory and industrial practice. At influential companies like IBM and Microsoft, he led the implementation of his ideas, creating systems that set the standard for the entire industry. His influence extends through the generations of computer scientists he mentored and the clear, practical principles he articulated. The concepts he developed are now so deeply embedded in computer science education and system design that they are considered standard practice, demonstrating his profound and enduring impact on the field.

## Notable For
*   **Turing Award (1998):** Received for his foundational contributions to database and transaction processing research.
*   **Industry Leadership:** Held senior research positions at several of the most influential technology companies in history, including IBM, Bell Labs, Digital Equipment Corporation, and Microsoft.
*   **Academic Honors:** Elected as a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
*   **ACM Fellow:** Recognized as an ACM Fellow in 1994 for his achievements in computer science.
*   **Key Awards:** In addition to the Turing Award, he received the ACM Software System Award (1988) and the SIGMOD Edgar F. Codd Innovations Award (1993).

## Body
### Personal Information
*   **Full Name:** James Nicholas Gray
*   **Aliases:** Jim Gray, James N. Gray
*   **Born:** January 12, 1944, in San Francisco, California, U.S.
*   **Nationality:** United States
*   **Gender:** Male
*   **Disappearance and Death:** Gray disappeared at sea on January 28, 2007. He was officially declared dead on January 28, 2012. His place of death is recorded as the Pacific Ocean.

### Education and Career
*   **Education:**
    *   **University of California, Berkeley (1961-1966):** Bachelor of Science in applied mathematics.
    *   **Courant Institute:** Master of Science.
    *   **University of California, Berkeley (until 1969):** Doctor of Philosophy in computer science. His doctoral advisor was Michael A. Harrison.
*   **Employers:**
    *   IBM
    *   Bell Labs
    *   Digital Equipment Corporation
    *   Microsoft (1995–2007)
*   **Field of Work:** Computer science

### Awards and Recognition
*   **ACM Software System Award:** 1988
*   **SIGMOD Edgar F. Codd Innovations Award:** 1993
*   **ACM Fellow:** 1994
*   **Charles Babbage Award:** 1998
*   **Turing Award:** 1998
*   **Honorary Doctor of Paris Dauphine University:** 2004

### Professional Memberships
*   Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
*   National Academy of Engineering
*   National Academy of Sciences
*   American Academy of Arts and Sciences

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## References

1. [Source](https://amturing.acm.org/award_winners/gray_3649936.cfm)
2. [Source](https://awards.acm.org/award_winners/gray_3649936#140)
3. [Source](https://awards.acm.org/award_winners/gray_3649936#149)
4. [Source](https://awards.acm.org/newell/award-recipients)
5. [Source](https://awards.acm.org/award_winners/gray_3649936#158)
6. [Source](https://www.lamsade.dauphine.fr/fr/personnes/docteurs-honoris-causa.html)
7. [Source](https://www.computer.org/volunteering/awards/babbage)
8. International Standard Name Identifier
9. Virtual International Authority File
10. CiNii Research
11. [Source](https://awards.acm.org/fellows/award-recipients)
12. [Closure in Disappearance of Computer Scientist. 2012](https://archive.nytimes.com/bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/18/closure-in-disappearance-of-computer-scientist-jim-gray/)
13. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
14. [Inside the High Tech Hunt for a Missing Silicon Valley Legend](https://www.wired.com/2007/07/ff-jimgray-2/)
15. [Source](http://wwwp.oakland.edu/enp/erdpaths/)
16. Mathematics Genealogy Project
17. [Jim Gray | Microsoft Wiki | Fandom](https://microsoft.fandom.com/wiki/Jim_Gray)
18. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File