# Michael Stonebraker

> American computer scientist (born 1943)

**Wikidata**: [Q92758](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q92758)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Stonebraker)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/michael-stonebraker

## Summary

Michael Stonebraker is a United States computer scientist born on October 11, 1943, in Milton[1]. He was educated at The Governor's Academy, Princeton University, and the University of Michigan. He is employed by the University of California, Berkeley.His notable works include Ingres. He has received the Turing Award, the IEEE John von Neumann Medal, the ACM Software System Award, and the SIGMOD Edgar F. Codd Innovations Award, and he is an ACM Fellow[2][3][4][5]. He holds memberships in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the Association for Computing Machinery[5].

## Summary
Michael Stonebraker is an American computer scientist born in 1943, best known for pioneering relational database systems and co-developing the Ingres database management system. His work laid the foundation for modern database technology and earned him prestigious awards, including the Turing Award in 2014.

## Biography
- Born: October 11, 1943, Milton, Massachusetts, USA
- Nationality: United States
- Education:
  - Bachelor’s degree: Princeton University
  - Master’s degree: University of Michigan
  - Doctorate: University of California, Berkeley (1971)
- Known for: Co-developing the Ingres relational database system and advancing database research
- Employer(s): University of California, Berkeley (full professor)
- Field(s): Computer science

## Contributions
Michael Stonebraker is best known for his foundational work in database systems. In 1974, he and his colleagues developed Ingres, one of the first relational database management systems, which became a cornerstone of modern database technology. Stonebraker’s research focused on query optimization, concurrency control, and distributed databases. He also co-founded the Ingres Corporation in 1980, commercializing the technology. His work on the Postgres system, a successor to Ingres, further advanced database capabilities. Stonebraker’s contributions earned him numerous awards, including the Turing Award in 2014 and the IEEE John von Neumann Medal in 2005. He has mentored many influential computer scientists, including Margo Seltzer, Joseph M. Hellerstein, and Clifford Lynch.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Michael Stonebraker known for?
A: Michael Stonebraker is known for pioneering relational database systems, particularly for co-developing the Ingres database management system and later the Postgres system. His work laid the foundation for modern database technology.

### Q: What awards has Michael Stonebraker received?
A: Stonebraker has received several prestigious awards, including the Turing Award in 2014, the IEEE John von Neumann Medal in 2005, and the ACM Software System Award in 1988.

### Q: Where did Michael Stonebraker study?
A: Stonebraker earned his bachelor’s degree from Princeton University, his master’s from the University of Michigan, and his doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley in 1971.

### Q: Who are some of Michael Stonebraker’s notable doctoral students?
A: Some of Stonebraker’s notable doctoral students include Margo Seltzer, Joseph M. Hellerstein, Clifford Lynch, and Michael J. Carey.

### Q: What is the significance of the Ingres database system?
A: The Ingres database system, developed by Stonebraker and his team in 1974, was one of the first relational database management systems and became a foundational technology for modern database systems.

## Why They Matter
Michael Stonebraker’s work in database systems has had a profound impact on the field of computer science. His development of Ingres and Postgres laid the groundwork for modern relational databases, which are essential for data management in businesses, research, and everyday applications. Stonebraker’s innovations in query optimization, concurrency control, and distributed databases have influenced generations of researchers and practitioners. His mentorship of many influential computer scientists has further shaped the field. Without Stonebraker’s contributions, the development of modern database technology would have been significantly delayed, and the way we store, retrieve, and analyze data would be fundamentally different.

## Notable For
- Co-developed the Ingres relational database system (1974), a foundational technology for modern databases.
- Received the Turing Award in 2014 for his pioneering contributions to database systems.
- Earned the IEEE John von Neumann Medal in 2005 and the ACM Software System Award in 1988.
- Mentored influential computer scientists, including Margo Seltzer, Joseph M. Hellerstein, and Clifford Lynch.
- Developed the Postgres system, which advanced database capabilities beyond Ingres.

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Michael Stonebraker was born on October 11, 1943, in Milton, Massachusetts. He attended Princeton University for his bachelor’s degree and the University of Michigan for his master’s. He earned his doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley in 1971 under the supervision of Arch Waugh Naylor.

### Career and Research
Stonebraker’s career is marked by groundbreaking contributions to database systems. In 1974, he and his team developed Ingres, one of the first relational database management systems. This work was instrumental in establishing the principles of relational databases. He co-founded the Ingres Corporation in 1980 to commercialize the technology. Later, he developed the Postgres system, which extended the capabilities of relational databases. Stonebraker’s research focused on query optimization, concurrency control, and distributed databases, all of which remain critical areas in computer science.

### Awards and Recognition
Stonebraker’s work has been recognized with numerous awards. He received the Turing Award in 2014, the IEEE John von Neumann Medal in 2005, and the ACM Software System Award in 1988. He was also elected as a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Russian Academy of Sciences.

### Mentorship and Influence
Stonebraker has mentored many influential computer scientists, including Margo Seltzer, Joseph M. Hellerstein, Clifford Lynch, and Michael J. Carey. His doctoral students have made significant contributions to the field, further cementing his legacy in database research.

### Legacy
Michael Stonebraker’s legacy in database systems is immense. His work laid the foundation for modern database technology, influencing countless researchers and practitioners. The principles he established in Ingres and Postgres continue to shape the way data is managed and analyzed today. His contributions have had a lasting impact on the field of computer science, ensuring that his name remains synonymous with innovation in database systems.

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## References

1. [Source](https://amturing.acm.org/award_winners/stonebraker_1172121.cfm)
2. [Source](https://www.ieee.org/about/awards/bios/vonneumann-recipients.html#2019%20-%20Eva%20Tardos)
3. [Source](https://awards.acm.org/newell/award-recipients?year=&award=149&region=&submit=Submit&isSpecialCategory=)
4. [Source](https://awards.acm.org/fellows/award-recipients)
5. Mathematics Genealogy Project
6. International Standard Name Identifier
7. Virtual International Authority File
8. CiNii Research
9. [Source](http://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102635858)
10. SNAC
11. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
12. Quora