# John George Kemeny

> Jewish-Hungarian American mathematician, computer scientist, educator, and President of Dartmouth College

**Wikidata**: [Q28900](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q28900)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_G._Kemeny)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/john-george-kemeny

## Summary
John George Kemeny was a Jewish-Hungarian American mathematician, computer scientist, educator, and President of Dartmouth College. He is best known for co-developing Dartmouth BASIC, one of the first high-level programming languages, which played a pivotal role in popularizing computing education.

## Biography
- Born: May 31, 1926, Budapest, Hungary
- Nationality: Hungary, United States
- Education: Doctorate in mathematics from Princeton University (1949)
- Known for: Co-creating Dartmouth BASIC, a foundational programming language
- Employer(s): Dartmouth College (President, 1970–1981), Princeton University, Manhattan Project
- Field(s): Computer science, mathematics, education

## Contributions
John George Kemeny co-developed Dartmouth BASIC in 1964, a high-level programming language that became widely used in educational settings. This work, along with Thomas Kurtz, laid the groundwork for modern programming education. Kemeny also served as President of Dartmouth College from 1970 to 1981, during which time he emphasized interdisciplinary education and technological innovation. His academic contributions included research in mathematics and computer science, with notable work in type theory and set theory. Kemeny was a pioneer in integrating computing into higher education, shaping the field of computer science as a discipline.

## FAQs
### Q: What was John Kemeny's most significant contribution to computer science?
A: John Kemeny co-developed Dartmouth BASIC, one of the first high-level programming languages, which became foundational for computing education.

### Q: Where did John Kemeny study and earn his doctorate?
A: He earned his doctorate in mathematics from Princeton University in 1949.

### Q: What role did John Kemeny play at Dartmouth College?
A: He served as President of Dartmouth College from 1970 to 1981, where he promoted interdisciplinary education and technological innovation.

### Q: What was Dartmouth BASIC's impact on computing education?
A: Dartmouth BASIC made programming more accessible, helping to popularize computing education and shaping the field of computer science.

### Q: What other fields did John Kemeny work in besides computer science?
A: He was also a mathematician, educator, and university president, with contributions to type theory and set theory.

## Why They Matter
John George Kemeny's work in computer science and education had a profound impact on the field. Dartmouth BASIC, which he co-developed, became a cornerstone of programming education, making computing more accessible to students and professionals alike. As President of Dartmouth College, he championed interdisciplinary learning and technological innovation, shaping the institution's academic direction. Kemeny's contributions laid the groundwork for modern computing education and influenced generations of computer scientists and educators. Without his work, the development and widespread adoption of high-level programming languages might have been delayed, altering the trajectory of computer science as a discipline.

## Notable For
- Co-created Dartmouth BASIC, a foundational programming language
- Served as President of Dartmouth College (1970–1981), promoting interdisciplinary education
- Received the Computer Pioneer Award in 1985 for his contributions to computing
- Authored notable works, including "Type-Theory vs. Set-Theory" (1949)
- Advocated for integrating computing into higher education, shaping the field of computer science

## Body
### Early Life and Education
John George Kemeny was born on May 31, 1926, in Budapest, Hungary, to a Jewish family. He immigrated to the United States in 1940 and attended George Washington Educational Campus before enrolling at Princeton University. He earned his doctorate in mathematics in 1949, with Alonzo Church as his advisor.

### Career in Mathematics and Computer Science
Kemeny began his academic career at Princeton University, where he worked on research in mathematics and computer science. In 1964, he co-developed Dartmouth BASIC with Thomas Kurtz, a high-level programming language that became widely used in educational settings. This work was a significant milestone in the history of computing, making programming more accessible to students and professionals.

### Leadership at Dartmouth College
In 1970, Kemeny was appointed President of Dartmouth College, a position he held until 1981. During his tenure, he emphasized interdisciplinary education and technological innovation, shaping the institution's academic direction. He also played a key role in integrating computing into the college's curriculum, further solidifying Dartmouth's reputation as a leader in higher education.

### Later Contributions and Legacy
After his presidency, Kemeny continued to make contributions to computer science and education. He received the Computer Pioneer Award in 1985 for his pioneering work in programming languages and computing education. His legacy includes shaping the field of computer science, inspiring generations of students, and advancing the integration of technology in higher education.

### Personal Life and Death
John George Kemeny passed away on December 26, 1992, in Etna, New Hampshire, from natural causes. He is buried at Dartmouth College Cemetery. His work continues to influence computer science and education, with Dartmouth BASIC remaining a foundational programming language in the field.

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## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. MacTutor History of Mathematics archive
3. BnF authorities
4. Biographical Dictionary of Modern American Educators
5. Find a Grave
6. Mathematics Genealogy Project
7. International Standard Name Identifier
8. Virtual International Authority File
9. CiNii Research
10. SNAC
11. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
12. LIBRIS. 2012