Grace Hopper

Grace Brewster Murray Hopper was born to Walter Fletcher Murray and Mary Campbell Van Horne in New York City. She was the oldest of three children.

Grace Hopper graduated from Vassar College with a bachelor's degree in mathematics and physics, setting the foundation for her future career in computer science.

Grace Hopper married Vincent Foster Hopper, a New York University professor, in a ceremony in New York City. The marriage lasted until 1945, when they divorced.

Grace Hopper earned her PhD in Mathematics from Yale University, becoming one of the few women to achieve such a distinction at the time.

During World War II, Grace Hopper joined the U.S. Navy Reserve, serving in the Waves (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) and working on the Mark I computer at Harvard.

After the war, Grace Hopper continued her work at Harvard as a Research Fellow in Engineering Sciences and Applied Physics, focusing on the development of early computers.

Grace Hopper joined the Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation, where she worked on the UNIVAC I, one of the first commercial computers, and pioneered the concept of machine-independent programming languages.

Grace Hopper developed the first compiler, which translated high-level programming languages into machine code, revolutionizing computer programming and making it more accessible.

Grace Hopper retired from the Navy with the rank of Commander but was recalled to active duty to help standardize the Navy's computer languages and systems.

Grace Hopper officially retired from the U.S. Navy as a Rear Admiral, the oldest active-duty commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy at the time, and a celebrated figure in computer science.

Grace Hopper passed away in her sleep at the age of 85, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most influential figures in the history of computer science and the U.S. Navy.