John Backus

Summary

John Backus is a human^[1]. Born in Philadelphia^[2], he… he was born on +1924-12-03T00:00:00Z^[3]. He died in Ashland^[4]. He died on +2007-03-17T00:00:00Z^[5]. He worked as a mathematician^[6] and computer scientist^[7]. He ranks in the top 0.72% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (242 views/month, #7,153 of 1,000,298).^[8]

Key Facts

• Born in Philadelphia^[2], John Backus…
• John Backus passed away in Ashland^[4].
• John Backus was born on +1924-12-03T00:00:00Z^[3].
• John Backus died on +2007-03-17T00:00:00Z^[5].
• Burial took place at San Francisco Columbarium^[9].
• John Backus held citizenship in United States^[10].
• John Backus's professions included mathematician^[6].
• John Backus worked as a computer scientist^[7].
• John Backus's field of work was computer science^[11].
• John Backus's field of work was informatics^[12].
• John Backus was employed by IBM^[13].
• Among John Backus's employers was United States Army^[14].
• John Backus was educated at Columbia University^[15].
• John Backus was educated at University of Virginia^[16].
• John Backus's education included a stint at The Hill School^[17].
• A notable work attributed to John Backus is Speedcoding^[18].
• A notable work attributed to John Backus is Fortran^[19].
• A notable work attributed to John Backus is Backus–Naur form^[20].
• A notable work attributed to John Backus is FP^[21].
• John Backus received the IBM Fellow^[22].
• John Backus received the Turing Award^[23].
• John Backus received the Charles Stark Draper Prize^[24].
• John Backus received the Harold Pender Award^[25].
• John Backus received the National Medal of Science^[26].
• John Backus received the Computer History Museum Fellow^[27].

Body

Origins and Family

John Backus's place of birth was Philadelphia^[2]. He was born on +1924-12-03T00:00:00Z^[3].

Education

Educated at Columbia University^[15], a private university^[28], in United States^[29], founded in 1754^[30], headquartered in Manhattan^[31]; University of Virginia^[16], a public research university^[32], in United States^[33], founded in 1819^[34], headquartered in Charlottesville^[35]; and The Hill School^[17], a university-preparatory school^[36], in United States^[37], founded in 1851^[38], headquartered in Pottstown^[39].

Career and Affiliations

Recorded occupations include mathematician^[6] and computer scientist^[7]. Fields of work include computer science^[11], an academic discipline^[40] and informatics^[12], an academic major^[41], founded in 1957^[42]. Employers include IBM^[13], a software company^[43], in United States^[44], founded in 1911^[45], headquartered in Armonk^[46] and United States Army^[14], an army^[47], in United States^[48], founded in 1775^[49], headquartered in The Pentagon^[50].

Works and Contributions

Notable works include Speedcoding^[18], Fortran^[19], Backus–Naur form^[20], and FP^[21]. Things named for John Backus include Backus–Naur form^[51], a metasyntax^[52].

Recognition

Awards received include IBM Fellow^[22], a fellowship grant^[53]; Turing Award^[23], a science award^[54], in United States^[55], founded in 1966^[56]; Charles Stark Draper Prize^[24], a science award^[57], in United States^[58], founded in 1989^[59]; Harold Pender Award^[25], an award^[60], in United States^[61], founded in 1972^[62]; National Medal of Science^[26], a science award^[63], in United States^[64], founded in 1963^[65]; and Computer History Museum Fellow^[27], a fellowship award^[66].

Death and Burial

John Backus died on +2007-03-17T00:00:00Z^[5]. He died in Ashland^[4]. Burial took place at San Francisco Columbarium^[9].

Why It Matters

John Backus ranks in the top 0.72% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (242 views/month, #7,153 of 1,000,298).^[8] He has Wikipedia articles in 26 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.^[67] He is known by 29 alternative names across languages and contexts.^[68]

He has been cited as an influence by Peter Lucas^[69], a computer scientist^[70], 1935–2015^[71], of Austria^[72].

Entities named for him include Backus–Naur form^[51], a metasyntax^[52].

FAQs

Where was John Backus born?

Born in Philadelphia^[2], John Backus…

Where did John Backus die?

John Backus died in Ashland^[4].

What did John Backus do for work?

John Backus worked as mathematician^[6] and computer scientist^[7].

Where did John Backus go to school?

John Backus was educated at Columbia University^[15], University of Virginia^[16], and The Hill School^[17].

What awards did John Backus receive?

Honors received include IBM Fellow^[22], Turing Award^[23], Charles Stark Draper Prize^[24], and Harold Pender Award^[25].

Who did John Backus influence?

John Backus has been cited as an influence by Peter Lucas^[69].