John Shepherd-Barron
Encyclopedia
John Adrian Shepherd-Barron, OBE
(23 June 1925 – 15 May 2010) was a Scottish
inventor, who pioneered the development of the cash machine, sometimes referred to as the Automated Teller Machine
or ATM.
to British parents. His Scottish father, Wilfred Barron, was chief engineer of the Chittagong Port Commissioners East Bengal (now Bangladesh) which was then part of the British Empire then later Chief Engineer of the Port of London Authority
before becoming president of the Institute of Civil Engineers, whilst his mother Dorothy
, was an Olympic
tennis player and Wimbledon ladies doubles champion. Shepherd-Barron was educated at Stowe School
, the University of Edinburgh
and Trinity College, Cambridge
. During World War II, he was commissioned into the Airborne Forces
, serving with the 159th Parachute Light Regiment.
Instruments in the 1960s and came up with the concept of a self-service machine which would dispense paper currency with 24/7 availability. This was the Automated Teller Machine
(ATM). The first machine was established outside an Enfield
, north London
, branch of Barclays Bank in June 1967, when he was Managing Director of De La Rue
Instruments. According to the ATM Industry Association, there are now more than 1.7 million installed worldwide. He received the Order of the British Empire
in the 2005 New Year's Honours
list for services to banking as "inventor of the automatic cash dispenser". Shepherd-Barron told the BBC that he was inspired by chocolate vending machines.
There is still some controversy over the invention. James Goodfellow
developed an alternative ATM design, using PIN
technology (which he invented), resembling modern ATMs more than Shepherd-Barron's machine. However, Shepherd-Barron's machine (the idea for which he had in the bath, after having been locked out of his bank) was the first to be installed.
The Shepherd-Barron dispenser actually predated the introduction of the plastic card with its magnetic strip: the machines used special cheques which had been impregnated with a radioactive compound of carbon-14, which was detected and matched against the personal identification number
(PIN) entered on a keypad. A proposed PIN length of 6 digits was rejected and 4 digits chosen instead, because it was the longest string of numbers that his wife could remember.
As well as the ATM, he has also invented some less successful devices, such as one that plays the sound of a killer whale to deter seals from salmon farms.
FRS, is professor
of algebraic geometry
at the University of Cambridge
.
He died on 15 May 2010 after a brief illness at the age of 84 in Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, Scotland.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(23 June 1925 – 15 May 2010) was a Scottish
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
inventor, who pioneered the development of the cash machine, sometimes referred to as the Automated Teller Machine
Automated teller machine
An automated teller machine or automatic teller machine, also known as a Cashpoint , cash machine or sometimes a hole in the wall in British English, is a computerised telecommunications device that provides the clients of a financial institution with access to financial transactions in a public...
or ATM.
Early life
John Adrian Shepherd-Barron was born on June 23 1925 at Shillong (now Meghalaya) in the Indian province of Assam, IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
to British parents. His Scottish father, Wilfred Barron, was chief engineer of the Chittagong Port Commissioners East Bengal (now Bangladesh) which was then part of the British Empire then later Chief Engineer of the Port of London Authority
Port of London Authority
The Port of London Authority is a self-funding public trust established in 1908 by the Port of London Act to govern the Port of London. Its responsibility extends over the Tideway of the River Thames and the authority is responsible for the public right of navigation and for conservancy of the...
before becoming president of the Institute of Civil Engineers, whilst his mother Dorothy
Dorothy Shepherd-Barron
Dorothy Cunliffe Shepherd-Barron was a female tennis player from Great Britain who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics.In 1924 she teamed up with Evelyn Colyer to win a bronze medal in the women's doubles event....
, was an Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
tennis player and Wimbledon ladies doubles champion. Shepherd-Barron was educated at Stowe School
Stowe School
Stowe School is an independent school in Stowe, Buckinghamshire. It was founded on 11 May 1923 by J. F. Roxburgh, initially with 99 male pupils. It is a member of the Rugby Group and Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. The school is also a member of the G20 Schools Group...
, the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
and Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
. During World War II, he was commissioned into the Airborne Forces
Airborne forces
Airborne forces are military units, usually light infantry, set up to be moved by aircraft and 'dropped' into battle. Thus they can be placed behind enemy lines, and have an ability to deploy almost anywhere with little warning...
, serving with the 159th Parachute Light Regiment.
Career
Shepherd-Barron joined De La RueDe La Rue
De La Rue plc is a British security printing, papermaking and cash handling systems company headquartered in Basingstoke, Hampshire. It also has a factory on the Team Valley Trading Estate, Gateshead, and other facilities at Loughton, Essex and Bathford, Somerset...
Instruments in the 1960s and came up with the concept of a self-service machine which would dispense paper currency with 24/7 availability. This was the Automated Teller Machine
Automated teller machine
An automated teller machine or automatic teller machine, also known as a Cashpoint , cash machine or sometimes a hole in the wall in British English, is a computerised telecommunications device that provides the clients of a financial institution with access to financial transactions in a public...
(ATM). The first machine was established outside an Enfield
Enfield Town
Enfield Town is the historic town centre of Enfield, formerly in the county of Middlesex and now in the London Borough of Enfield. It is north north-east of Charing Cross...
, north 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...
, branch of Barclays Bank in June 1967, when he was Managing Director of De La Rue
De La Rue
De La Rue plc is a British security printing, papermaking and cash handling systems company headquartered in Basingstoke, Hampshire. It also has a factory on the Team Valley Trading Estate, Gateshead, and other facilities at Loughton, Essex and Bathford, Somerset...
Instruments. According to the ATM Industry Association, there are now more than 1.7 million installed worldwide. He received the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in the 2005 New Year's Honours
British honours system
The British honours system is a means of rewarding individuals' personal bravery, achievement, or service to the United Kingdom and the British Overseas Territories...
list for services to banking as "inventor of the automatic cash dispenser". Shepherd-Barron told the BBC that he was inspired by chocolate vending machines.
There is still some controversy over the invention. James Goodfellow
James Goodfellow
James Goodfellow OBE is a Scottish inventor. He patented Personal Identification Number technology, and is widely acknowledged as the inventor of Automatic Teller Machine technology, although John Shepherd-Barron also had a large part to play in their development.He was a development engineer...
developed an alternative ATM design, using PIN
Personal identification number
A personal identification number is a secret numeric password shared between a user and a system that can be used to authenticate the user to the system. Typically, the user is required to provide a non-confidential user identifier or token and a confidential PIN to gain access to the system...
technology (which he invented), resembling modern ATMs more than Shepherd-Barron's machine. However, Shepherd-Barron's machine (the idea for which he had in the bath, after having been locked out of his bank) was the first to be installed.
The Shepherd-Barron dispenser actually predated the introduction of the plastic card with its magnetic strip: the machines used special cheques which had been impregnated with a radioactive compound of carbon-14, which was detected and matched against the personal identification number
Personal identification number
A personal identification number is a secret numeric password shared between a user and a system that can be used to authenticate the user to the system. Typically, the user is required to provide a non-confidential user identifier or token and a confidential PIN to gain access to the system...
(PIN) entered on a keypad. A proposed PIN length of 6 digits was rejected and 4 digits chosen instead, because it was the longest string of numbers that his wife could remember.
As well as the ATM, he has also invented some less successful devices, such as one that plays the sound of a killer whale to deter seals from salmon farms.
Personal life
His son, Nicholas Shepherd-BarronNicholas Shepherd-Barron
Nicholas Ian Shepherd-Barron is a British mathematician working in algebraic geometry. He is professor of mathematics at Cambridge University and a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge....
FRS, is professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of algebraic geometry
Algebraic geometry
Algebraic geometry is a branch of mathematics which combines techniques of abstract algebra, especially commutative algebra, with the language and the problems of geometry. It occupies a central place in modern mathematics and has multiple conceptual connections with such diverse fields as complex...
at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
.
He died on 15 May 2010 after a brief illness at the age of 84 in Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, Scotland.