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John von Neumann

Hungarian-American polymath

John von Neumann was a mathematician, physicist, computer scientist, and engineer. He made significant contributions to mathematics, physics, economics, computing, and statistics. Von Neumann played a crucial role in the Manhattan Project during World War II and was a key figure in the development of the United States' first ICBM programs. His work in quantum physics, functional analysis, and game theory had a lasting impact on various fields. Von Neumann's intellectual prowess earned him accolades and recognition across disciplines.

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Alan Turing Erwin Schrödinger Quantum Mechanics J. Robert Oppenheimer John Maynard Keynes Ludwig Wittgenstein Karl Nehammer Albert Einstein Ludwig Boltzmann Gordon Moore

Timeline

John von Neumann's Birth

John von Neumann, a Hungarian-American mathematician and polymath, was born in 1903. He made significant contributions to mathematics, physics, and computer science.

Birth of John von Neumann

John von Neumann was born in Budapest, Hungary. He later became one of the world's leading mathematicians at a young age.

John von Neumann enters the Lutheran Gymnasium

In 1911, John von Neumann started attending the Lutheran Gymnasium, a school with a strong academic tradition. His mathematics teacher identified his genius early on and provided special tutoring for him.

Elevation of John von Neumann's Father to Hungarian Nobility

Emperor Franz Joseph elevated John von Neumann's father to the Hungarian nobility on February 20, 1913, for his service to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Neumann family acquired the hereditary appellation Margittai, and John later changed his name to Johann von Neumann.

John von Neumann's Education at Lutheran Fasori Evangélikus Gimnázium

In 1914, John von Neumann entered the Lutheran Fasori Evangélikus Gimnázium for his education. He excelled in mathematics and by the age of 19, he had already published two major mathematical papers.

John von Neumann's Mathematical Achievements

In his mid-twenties, John von Neumann was recognized as a prodigy in mathematics. He made significant contributions in logic, set theory, group theory, ergodic theory, and operator theory. However, he did not have major contributions in topology and number theory.

Completion of Secondary School by John von Neumann

John von Neumann completed his secondary school education in April 1921.

Publication of von Neumann's First Mathematics Paper

In 1922, John von Neumann's first mathematics paper, written jointly with Fekete, was published, showcasing his early contributions to the field.

Publication of 'An Approximation of Set Theory'

John published a work titled 'An Approximation of Set Theory' which caught the attention of David Hilbert.

Von Neumann's Decomposition of the Disk

In 1929, von Neumann subdivided a two-dimensional disk into finitely many pieces and rearranged them into two disks using area-preserving affine transformations, showcasing his innovative approach to geometry.

Publication of 'On Certain Equations of Economics and a Generalization of Brouwer’s Fixed Point Theorem'

John von Neumann published a paper titled 'On Certain Equations of Economics and a Generalization of Brouwer’s Fixed Point Theorem' in 1932. The paper made significant contributions to the fields of economics and mathematics.

Famous Quote by John von Neumann

John von Neumann made a famous quote regarding the impact of certain actions on German science, highlighting the potential consequences of continued actions by a group of individuals.

Becoming a Professor at IAS

On July 20, 1933, John von Neumann became one of the first professors at the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) in Princeton, New Jersey. This marked a significant milestone in his academic career.

Becoming co-editor of Compositio Mathematica

In 1935, John von Neumann became the co-editor of Compositio Mathematica, a position he maintained until his passing.

Von Neumann's onion

In 1936, John von Neumann published a paper on rings of operators where he extended the normal functional notation to a complex form, resulting in equations that needed to be peeled before they could be understood.

Publication of Lecture

In 1937, von Neumann's lecture on economics equations and Brouwer's Fixed Point Theorem was published. The publication further solidified his contributions to the field of economics.

Introduction of von Neumann Algebras

In 1940, John von Neumann introduced a theory of rings of operators as part of his mathematical techniques tailored for quantum phenomena.

Von Neumann Algebra's

The concept of Von Neumann Algebras emerged in 1940, focusing on the work with quantum phenomena. It was a theory involving rings of operators.

Perfect Recitation of Books

Despite being modest and feeling like he didn't meet expectations, {subject} was able to recite books he had read years before perfectly.

Princeton Intersection Incident

{subject} was involved in an automobile accident at the Princeton intersection on April 18, 1943.

On July 16, 1945, John von Neumann and other Manhattan Project personnel witnessed the first test of an atomic bomb, code-named Trinity, at Alamogordo Bombing Range in New Mexico. Von Neumann estimated the blast size to be 5 kilotons of TNT.

John modifies ENIAC to stored-program machine

In 1946, John modified the U.S. Army's ENIAC to function as a stored-program machine, a significant advancement in computer technology.

Recognition for War Efforts

In 1947, John von Neumann was honored for his contributions to the war effort by being awarded the Presidential Medal for Merit and the Distinguished Civilian Service Award, highlighting his significant role during World War II.

John von Neumann becomes consultant to WSEG

On June 15, 1950, John von Neumann joined the Weapons Systems Evaluation Group (WSEG) as a consultant, providing advice to the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the US Secretary of Defense on new technologies and nuclear weapons.

Death of John von Neumann

John von Neumann was diagnosed with cancer and passed away 18 months later on February 8, 1957.

Publication of 'The Computer and the Brain'

In 1958, posthumously, John von Neumann's book 'The Computer and the Brain' was published by Yale University Press. The book explores the analogies between computing machines and the human brain, based on his unfinished Silliman Memorial Lectures.

John von Neumann

In 1959, F. Smithies wrote about John von Neumann in the Journal of the London Mathematical Society.

Publication of 'Theory of Self-Reproducing Automata'

In 1966, John von Neumann's 'Theory of Self-Reproducing Automata' was published, reconstructed from his manuscripts and notes by his colleague Arthur Burks. This work delves into the concept of self-replicating machines.

The Legend of John von Neumann

P. R. Halmos reflects on the legendary status of John von Neumann in the American Mathematical Monthly, highlighting his enduring influence.

John von Neumann and the National Accounting Machine

In 1974, J. Todd wrote about John von Neumann's involvement with the national accounting machine in the SIAM Review.

John von Neumann's Influence on Electronic Digital Computing

In 1980, N. Stern explored John von Neumann's influence on electronic digital computing during the years 1944-1946 in the Annals of the History of Computing.

John von Neumann: Aus Leben und Werk

H. Baumgärtel delves into the life and work of John von Neumann in Mitt. Math. Ges. DDR, shedding light on his contributions.

John von Neumann, 'der Rechentechniker'

In 1983, J. Szelezsán discussed John von Neumann's work in the field of numerical methods in the book 'Life and Work of John von Neumann'.

W Aspray's Mathematical Reception of the Modern Computer

Exploration of John von Neumann's role in the development of modern computers and computing at the Institute for Advanced Study, presented in Washington, DC in 1987.

The Transformation of Numerical Analysis by the Computer

The work by John von Neumann exemplifies the impact of computers on numerical analysis, as discussed by W. Aspray in The History of Modern Mathematics II.

The Extraordinary Inspiration of John von Neumann

I. Halperin explores the exceptional inspiration provided by John von Neumann in The Legacy of John von Neumann, showcasing his profound impact.

N Macrae's John von Neumann Biography

A biography of John von Neumann written by N Macrae and published in New York in 1992.

W Poundstone's Prisoner's Dilemma Book

Publication of the book 'Prisoner's Dilemma' by W Poundstone in Oxford in 1993.

American Scientists commemorative postage stamp series

On May 4, 2005, the United States Postal Service issued the American Scientists commemorative postage stamp series, featuring John von Neumann among other prominent scientists.

John von Neumann: Prophet of the 21st Century

A 2013 Arte documentary highlighting John von Neumann's influence in the modern world, with a focus on his prophetic insights for the 21st century. The documentary is in German and French with English subtitles.

Establishment of John von Neumann University

John von Neumann University was established in Kecskemét, Hungary in 2016, as a successor to Kecskemét College, in honor of John von Neumann.

End of the Timeline
John von Neumann

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