Grace Brewster Murray Hopper was born to Walter Fletcher Murray and Mary Campbell Van Horne, the eldest of three children.

Hopper graduated from Vassar College with a bachelor's degree in mathematics and physics, laying the foundation for her computing career.

She married Vincent Foster Hopper, a New York University professor; the marriage lasted until their divorce in 1945.

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

During WWII, Hopper joined the Navy Reserve WAVES program and was assigned to the Bureau of Ships Computation Project at Harvard.

Hopper became one of the first programmers of the Harvard Mark I computer, writing programs for military calculations.

After the war, Hopper remained at Harvard as a Research Fellow, working on Mark II and Mark III computers.

Hopper joined EMCC to work on UNIVAC I, pioneering machine-independent programming concepts.

Hopper created the first compiler (A-0 System), translating mathematical notation into machine code and revolutionizing programming.

Hopper served as technical consultant for the CODASYL committee that developed COBOL, one of the earliest high-level business programming languages.

Hopper retired from the Navy Reserve but was recalled to help standardize the Navy's computer languages and communication systems.

The Data Processing Management Association named Hopper its first Computer Sciences 'Man of the Year' for her contributions to computing.

Hopper was promoted to the rank of Captain in the Naval Reserve, continuing her pioneering work in naval computing.

By special Presidential appointment, Hopper was promoted to Commodore, later redesignated as Rear Admiral (lower half).

Hopper retired as the oldest active-duty commissioned officer in the Navy at age 79, having served 43 years.

Grace Hopper died in her sleep; she was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.