Gay father of modern computing Alan Turing finally gets Queen's pardon

Sixty-one years after he took his own life after being convicted of "gross indecency," Alan Turing—the father of modern computing—received a formal pardon from Queen Elizabeth II.

 

Turing, who had been convicted of "gross indecency" with a man in 1952, had taken his own life via cyanide poisoning at age 41, UK's The Independent reported.

 

“His later life was overshadowed by his conviction for homosexual activity, a sentence we would now consider unjust and discriminatory and which has now been repealed. A pardon from the Queen is a fitting tribute to an exceptional man,” the report quoted Justice Secretary Chris Grayling as saying.

 

Grayling added Turing deserved to be “remembered and recognized for his fantastic contribution to the war effort” and not for his later criminal conviction.

 

Before Turing, The Independent said only three high-profile pardons under the Royal Prerogative had been granted since 1945.

 

These were to Timothy Evans, Derek Bentley and Michael Shields.

 

Turing's work on the Enigma code at Bletchley Park is said to have shortened World War II, the report said.

 

According to The Independent, the pardon for Turing followed a change of heart by ministers who initially insisted Turing was properly convicted of what at the time was a criminal offense.

 

His pardon came even if two requirements were not met: when the person is innocent of the offense; and if a request was made by someone with a vested interest, such as a family member.

 

On the other hand, the pardon stemmed from a sustained campaign by scientists, including Stephen Hawking, and a petition to government signed by more 37,000 people. — TJD, GMA News