John Makepeace Bennett
Encyclopedia
Emeritus Professor John Makepeace Bennett AO, FTSE, (1921–2010) was an early Australian computer scientist
. He was Australia's first professor of computer science and the founding president of the Australian Computer Society
. His pioneering career included work on early computers such as EDSAC
, Ferranti Mark 1* and SILLIAC
, and spreading the word about the use of computers through computing courses and computing associations.
, the son of Albert John Bennett and Elsie Winifred née Bourne.
In 1952 he married Rosalind Mary Elkington (who was also working at Ferranti
). They had four children: Chistopher John, Ann Margaret, Susan Elizabeth and Jane Mary.
In 1986 Bennett, aged 65, retired with his wife to Sydney's Northern Beaches.
Bennett died at home on 9 December 2010 and was survived by his wife, four children and six grandchildren.
. After which, he went to the University of Queensland
to study civil engineering
.
From 1942 until 1946 (during WWII
), he served in the RAAF. He worked on a radar unit on the Wessel Islands
and later worked in airfield construction. He then returned to the University of Queensland to study electrical
and mechanical engineering
and mathematics
.
' first research assistant as part of the team working to build EDSAC
. This was the world's first practical stored program electronic computer, and the world's first computer in regular operation from 1949. He used EDSAC to carry out the first ever structural engineering calculations on a computer as part of his PhD
.
He worked for Ferranti
in Manchester
and London
as a computer specialist. Here he designed the instruction set
for Ferranti Mark 1*, which was the main improvement of that machine over Ferranti Mark 1.
In 1956, Bennett returned to Australia
to become Numerical Analyst (and later Senior Numerical Analyst) to the Adolph Basser Laboratory at the University of Sydney
. His main work was the development of software for SILLIAC
.
Until 1958 he taught associated courses in the use of computers. In 1958 he established a Postgraduate Diploma in Numerical Analysis and Computing which was later changed to the Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science.
In 1961, the Basser Laboratory became the Basser Computing Department and John Bennet became Professor of Physics (Electronic Computing). In 1972 the Basser Computing Department was split into the Basser Department of Computer Science (for teaching and research) and the University Computer Centre. John Bennett was appointed head of the new Basser Department of Computer Science, but it was not until 1982 that John Bennett's title was changed to be Professor of Computer Science.
He was also the Foundation Chairman of the Australian Committee on Computation and Automatic Control
from 1959 to 1963, the President of the New South Wales Computer Society from 1965 to 1966, and the Foundation President of the Australian Computer Society
from 1966 to 1967. In 1981 he helped found the Research Foundation for Information Technology at the University.
(AO).
In 2001 he was awarded the Centenary Medal for service to Australian computer science and technology.
In 2004 Dr Bennett was awarded the Pearcey Medal, an annual award presented to a distinguished Australian for a lifetime and outstanding contribution to the ICT industry.
Computer scientist
A computer scientist is a scientist who has acquired knowledge of computer science, the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and their application in computer systems....
. He was Australia's first professor of computer science and the founding president of the Australian Computer Society
Australian Computer Society
The Australian Computer Society is an association for information and communications technology professionals. According to its Constitution, its objects are "to advance professional excellence in information technology" and "to promote the development of Australian information and communications...
. His pioneering career included work on early computers such as EDSAC
EDSAC
Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator was an early British computer. The machine, having been inspired by John von Neumann's seminal First Draft of a Report on the EDVAC, was constructed by Maurice Wilkes and his team at the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory in England...
, Ferranti Mark 1* and SILLIAC
SILLIAC
The SILLIAC , an early computer built by the University of Sydney, Australia, was based on the ILLIAC and ORDVAC computers developed at the University of Illinois, which in turn were based on the IAS architecture developed by John von Neumann.SILLIAC had its genesis in...
, and spreading the word about the use of computers through computing courses and computing associations.
Personal life
John Bennett was born on 31 July 1921 in Warwick, QueenslandWarwick, Queensland
Warwick is a town in Queensland, Australia, lying south-west of Brisbane. It is the administrative centre of the Southern Downs Local Government Area. In 2006 the town of Warwick had a population of 12,562....
, the son of Albert John Bennett and Elsie Winifred née Bourne.
In 1952 he married Rosalind Mary Elkington (who was also working at Ferranti
Ferranti
Ferranti or Ferranti International plc was a UK electrical engineering and equipment firm that operated for over a century from 1885 until it went bankrupt in 1993. Known primarily for defence electronics, the Company was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index but ceased trading in 1993.The...
). They had four children: Chistopher John, Ann Margaret, Susan Elizabeth and Jane Mary.
In 1986 Bennett, aged 65, retired with his wife to Sydney's Northern Beaches.
Bennett died at home on 9 December 2010 and was survived by his wife, four children and six grandchildren.
Education and War Service
John Bennett was educated at The Southport SchoolThe Southport School
The Southport School , is an independent, Anglican, day and boarding school for boys, located in Southport, a suburb on the Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia....
. After which, he went to the University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
to study civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
.
From 1942 until 1946 (during WWII
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
), he served in the RAAF. He worked on a radar unit on the Wessel Islands
Wessel Islands
The Wessel Islands are a group of islands belonging to the Northern Territory of Australia. They extend in a more or less straight line from Buckingham Bay and the Napier Peninsula of Arnhem Land, and Elcho Island, to the northeast. Marchinbar Island is the largest of the group...
and later worked in airfield construction. He then returned to the University of Queensland to study electrical
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
and mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
and mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
.
Professional Life
In 1947 he went to Cambridge University to become Maurice Vincent WilkesMaurice Vincent Wilkes
Sir Maurice Vincent Wilkes FRS, FREng, DFBCS was a British computer scientist credited with several important developments in computing. At the time of his death, Wilkes was an Emeritus Professor of the University of Cambridge...
' first research assistant as part of the team working to build EDSAC
EDSAC
Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator was an early British computer. The machine, having been inspired by John von Neumann's seminal First Draft of a Report on the EDVAC, was constructed by Maurice Wilkes and his team at the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory in England...
. This was the world's first practical stored program electronic computer, and the world's first computer in regular operation from 1949. He used EDSAC to carry out the first ever structural engineering calculations on a computer as part of his PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
.
He worked for Ferranti
Ferranti
Ferranti or Ferranti International plc was a UK electrical engineering and equipment firm that operated for over a century from 1885 until it went bankrupt in 1993. Known primarily for defence electronics, the Company was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index but ceased trading in 1993.The...
in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
as a computer specialist. Here he designed the instruction set
Instruction set
An instruction set, or instruction set architecture , is the part of the computer architecture related to programming, including the native data types, instructions, registers, addressing modes, memory architecture, interrupt and exception handling, and external I/O...
for Ferranti Mark 1*, which was the main improvement of that machine over Ferranti Mark 1.
In 1956, Bennett returned to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
to become Numerical Analyst (and later Senior Numerical Analyst) to the Adolph Basser Laboratory at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
. His main work was the development of software for SILLIAC
SILLIAC
The SILLIAC , an early computer built by the University of Sydney, Australia, was based on the ILLIAC and ORDVAC computers developed at the University of Illinois, which in turn were based on the IAS architecture developed by John von Neumann.SILLIAC had its genesis in...
.
Until 1958 he taught associated courses in the use of computers. In 1958 he established a Postgraduate Diploma in Numerical Analysis and Computing which was later changed to the Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science.
In 1961, the Basser Laboratory became the Basser Computing Department and John Bennet became Professor of Physics (Electronic Computing). In 1972 the Basser Computing Department was split into the Basser Department of Computer Science (for teaching and research) and the University Computer Centre. John Bennett was appointed head of the new Basser Department of Computer Science, but it was not until 1982 that John Bennett's title was changed to be Professor of Computer Science.
He was also the Foundation Chairman of the Australian Committee on Computation and Automatic Control
Australian Committee on Computation and Automatic Control
The Australian Committee on Computation and Automatic Control was formed in 1958, with Professor John Bennett as the Foundation Chairman. It ran a computing conferences in Australia from 1960 and in 1961 was accepted as a member of the International Federation for Information Processing...
from 1959 to 1963, the President of the New South Wales Computer Society from 1965 to 1966, and the Foundation President of the Australian Computer Society
Australian Computer Society
The Australian Computer Society is an association for information and communications technology professionals. According to its Constitution, its objects are "to advance professional excellence in information technology" and "to promote the development of Australian information and communications...
from 1966 to 1967. In 1981 he helped found the Research Foundation for Information Technology at the University.
Awards
In 1983 he became an Officer of the Order of AustraliaOrder of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(AO).
In 2001 he was awarded the Centenary Medal for service to Australian computer science and technology.
In 2004 Dr Bennett was awarded the Pearcey Medal, an annual award presented to a distinguished Australian for a lifetime and outstanding contribution to the ICT industry.
Other Reading
- Costello, J. (1993) 'John Bennett.' ComputerworldComputerworldComputerworld is an IT magazine that provides information for senior IT leaders. It is published in many countries around the world under the same or similar names. Its publisher is International Data Group. Computerworld serves the needs of IT management via print and online...
. 16 July, page 2. - Davidson, P. (2003) 'John Bennett: educating the technology. generation.' Information Age. August/September, page 31.