Donald Knuth
Born 1938 · Age 87
American computer scientist and mathematician; author of The Art of Computer Programming; creator of TeX, METAFONT, Computer Modern; pioneer of algorithm analysis and literate programming; professor emeritus at Stanford.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Donald Ervin Knuth born to Ervin Henry Knuth and Louise Marie Bohning in Milwaukee; father ran a small printing business and taught bookkeeping.
Ziegler's Giant Bar word‑rearrangement contest (eighth grade)
As a schoolboy Knuth found ~4,500 words from the letters of 'Ziegler's Giant Bar', winning the competition (judges had ~2,500).
Enrolled at Case Institute of Technology (physics)
Entered Case Institute (later Case Western Reserve University); joined Beta Nu Chapter of Theta Chi fraternity; began working with the IBM 650.
Graduated Milwaukee Lutheran High School; scholarship to Case Institute
Graduated high school (highest GPA at his school to date) and accepted a scholarship in physics to Case Institute of Technology (Cleveland).
First published (satirical) article: 'The Potrzebie System'
Published a humorous/scientific article in Mad magazine demonstrating early writing/playful technical interest.
Developed basketball team performance program (IBM 650)
Wrote a program assigning values to players to gauge scoring probability; attracted national press attention (Newsweek, CBS).
Founding editor, Engineering and Science Review (Case)
One of the founding editors; the magazine won a national award as best technical magazine in 1959.
Earned BS and simultaneous MS from Case Institute
Switched from physics to mathematics; faculty awarded him an MS at the same time as his BS due to outstanding work.
Proposed/contracted to write ALGOL compiler for Burroughs B205 ($5,500)
At the end of his senior year Knuth proposed to Burroughs an ALGOL compiler contract for $5,500 (accepted); he worked on it between Case and Caltech.
Offered Woodrow Wilson & NSF fellowships (declined/complex)
Accounts indicate he was awarded or offered prestigious fellowships around graduation; he later declined some fellowships because they forbade outside consulting.
Entered California Institute of Technology (graduate studies)
Began graduate study at Caltech (mathematics), leading to a PhD; continued consulting work with Burroughs while a student.
Returned to Burroughs as consultant (anecdote about degree)
Returned to Burroughs in June 1961 and (anecdotally) did not mention he held a master's rather than a bachelor's degree; continued innovative contributions (DEFINE, compiler ideas).
Married Nancy Jill Carter
Married Nancy Jill Carter while a graduate student at Caltech.
Commission from Addison‑Wesley to write on compilers (seed for TAOCP)
Addison‑Wesley asked Knuth to write a book on compilers; his scope broadened into The Art of Computer Programming.
Computed Euler's constant to 1,271 decimals (research)
Produced high‑precision computation of Euler's constant (example of computational-combinatorial work).
Appointed Assistant Professor, Caltech
Joined Caltech faculty as assistant professor of mathematics after PhD; continued consultancy with Burroughs.
PhD in Mathematics from Caltech
Awarded PhD for thesis 'Finite Semifields and Projective Planes' under advisor Marshall Hall Jr.
Joined American Guild of Organists
Formalized his ongoing involvement in music; continued composing and playing organ.
Promoted to Associate Professor, Caltech
Promotion at Caltech (associate professor) as his research and publication record grew.
Published The Art of Computer Programming, Volume 1
TAOCP Vol. 1: Fundamental Algorithms released by Addison‑Wesley; beginning of his multivolume magnum opus.
Left Caltech for Institute for Defense Analyses (Princeton)
Accepted employment at IDA Communications Research Division (mathematical research supporting NSA efforts) just before publishing Vol. 1.
Published The Art of Computer Programming, Volume 2
TAOCP Vol. 2: Seminumerical Algorithms published.
Joined Stanford University faculty
Left IDA/Princeton position and accepted a faculty position at Stanford (appointed to computer science faculty).
Introduced 'Concrete Mathematics' course at Stanford
Developed a course to teach mathematical tools needed for TAOCP; course notes later evolved into the book Concrete Mathematics.
First ACM Grace Murray Hopper Award
Received the inaugural Grace Murray Hopper Award from ACM for contributions to computing.
Published The Art of Computer Programming, Volume 3
TAOCP Vol. 3: Sorting and Searching published after his year at University of Oslo.
Awarded ACM Turing Award
Received the ACM A. M. Turing Award for contributions to analysis of algorithms and design of programming languages (cited TAOCP).
Elected to National Academy of Sciences
Recognized for major contributions to computer science and mathematics.
Published influential papers on algorithm analysis and random number generation
Published notable papers (e.g., work on complexity, random number generation) that influenced operations research and algorithm analysis.
Named Fletcher Jones Professor of Computer Science (Stanford)
Awarded an endowed professorship at Stanford University.
Published Knuth–Morris–Pratt pattern‑matching paper
Publication 'Fast pattern matching in strings' (KMP algorithm) furthered algorithmic string search theory.
Began TeX project (digital typesetting)
Began work on TeX to regain high-quality typesetting for TAOCP; project later included METAFONT and Computer Modern fonts.
Received National Medal of Science
Awarded the U.S. National Medal of Science (presented by President Jimmy Carter).
Gave AMS Gibbs Lecture: 'Mathematical Typography' (announced TeX goals)
Public lecture describing typography goals; outlined archival aims for TeX and METAFONT.
Elected Distinguished Fellow of the British Computer Society
Honored by BCS for contributions to computer science.
Published The TeXbook (Computers & Typesetting Vol. A)
Released The TeXbook (user manual) as part of the Computers & Typesetting series.
Published TeX: The Program and METAFONT books; Computer Modern typefaces
Published program source books and fonts (TeX: The Program; METAFONT: The Program; Computer Modern Typefaces) documenting TeX/METAFONT and their code.
Awarded Steele Prize for Exposition (AMS)
Received the AMS Leroy Steele Prize for Exposition in recognition of outstanding expository work.
Chinese name placed atop Journal of Computer Science and Technology header
His Chinese name Gao Dena (given in 1977) was placed on the journal header in 1989 as a sign of connection to Chinese programmers.
Named Professor of The Art of Computer Programming (unique title)
Awarded one-of-a-kind academic title at Stanford reflecting his life's work; later revised to Professor Emeritus of The Art of Computer Programming.
Associate of the French Academy of Sciences; retired from regular teaching to finish TAOCP
Elected associate of Académie des Sciences (France); announced retirement from full teaching/research to focus on TAOCP volumes.
Became Professor Emeritus at Stanford
Transitioned to Professor Emeritus status (1993) but continued writing and giving occasional lectures.
Published The Stanford GraphBase
Released The Stanford GraphBase: a platform for combinatorial computing (book).
Concrete Mathematics 2nd edition published (co‑authored)
Second edition of Concrete Mathematics (Graham, Knuth, Patashnik) published, originating from Knuth's Stanford course.
Received John von Neumann Medal and Harvey Prize
Awarded the IEEE John von Neumann Medal and the Technion Harvey Prize for contributions to computing and mathematics.
Awarded Kyoto Prize
Received the Kyoto Prize (Inamori Foundation) for fundamental contributions to computer science and technology.
Named Fellow of the Computer History Museum
Recognized for foundational work on algorithms and TeX; inducted as a CHM fellow.
Computers & Typesetting boxed set released (A–E box set)
Addison‑Wesley released a boxed set of the Computers & Typesetting volumes (TeX/METAFONT & related materials).
Minor planet (21656) Knuth named in his honor
Asteroid 21656 Knuth was named after Donald Knuth (officially recognized May 2001).
Elected Foreign Member of the Royal Society (ForMemRS)
Elected as a Foreign Member of the Royal Society (London) in recognition of lifetime contributions.
Diagnosed with prostate cancer; surgery in Dec 2006
Publicly disclosed prostate cancer diagnosis and underwent surgery in December; prognosis reported as good.
Stopped sending monetary reward checks for errata (changed practice)
Due to bank fraud he stopped sending physical $2.56 checks and began issuing 'certificates of deposit' from a fictional 'Bank of San Serriffe' while retaining the tradition.
Elected Fellow of Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM)
Elected among the first class of SIAM Fellows for outstanding contributions to mathematics.
BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award and Katayanagi Prize
Received the BBVA Frontiers of Knowledge Award (ICT) and Katayanagi Prize for contributions to computing and digital typography.
Turing Lecture; Faraday Medal; Stanford Hero Award
Delivered the Turing Lecture; awarded the IET Faraday Medal and Stanford University School of Engineering Hero Award.
Published The Art of Computer Programming, Volume 4A
Released TAOCP Vol. 4A: Combinatorial Algorithms, Part 1 (921 pages), continuing the long-running series.
Elected Fellow of the American Mathematical Society; Member of the American Philosophical Society
Recognized by major learned societies for contributions in mathematics and computing.
Received Flajolet Lecture Prize
Awarded the Flajolet Lecture Prize for contributions to the analysis of algorithms and combinatorics.
Honorary Membership, London Mathematical Society
Elected to Honorary Membership of the LMS in its 150th anniversary year.
Completed organ composition 'Fantasia Apocalyptica'
Completed a large organ work, described as a musical translation of the text of Revelation; performed later in 2018.
Première of 'Fantasia Apocalyptica' in Sweden
World premiere of his organ composition occurred on his 80th birthday (Jan 10, 2018) in Sweden.
Stated expectations for TAOCP Volume 4 (parts A–F)
Announced that Volume 4 of TAOCP will include at least parts A through F (statement made April 2020).
Published The Art of Computer Programming, Volume 4B
TAOCP Vol. 4B: Combinatorial Algorithms, Part 2 published in October 2022 continuing the long series.
Ongoing public lectures: 'Computer Musings' series
Continues to give informal public lectures at Stanford called 'Computer Musings' several times a year and occasionally visits graduate courses.
Continues to publish short mathematical notes and proposals
Active contributor to mathematical journals (examples include short problems and proposals in American Mathematical Monthly 2020s).
Key Achievement Ages
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