The Achievements of Grace Murray Hopper

Birth

Dec 9, 1906

Grace Murray was born in New York City

Marriage

1930

Grace Murray was married to Vincent Foster Hopper in 1930. They later were divorced in 1945, and Grace Murray Hopper never remarried.

Ph.D.

1934

After obtaining a Bachelor's Degree from Vassar College, and a Master's Degree from Yale University, Grace Murray obtained a Ph.D. in Mathematics from Yale University in 1934.

Enlistment

1943

In 1943, Grace Murray Hopper enlisted into the United States Navy.

Mark I

1944

In 1944, Grace Murry Hopper, who had been commissioned as a lieutenant, started working for Professor Howard H. Aiken on the Mark I. This computing machine could perform calculations in a single day which previously would take a month to do.

Debugging

1947

While working on the Mark II, Grace Murray Hopper and her team found that the Mark II wasn't working properly, and upon inspection, found a moth lodged in a relay. They removed the bug, thus popularizing the term "debugging".

UNIVAC

1949

Hopper joined the Eckert–Mauchly Computer Corporation. Working here, she served as a senior mathematician on UNIVAC which was the first known large-scale electronic computer. The goal was to help take human language, and devise a way to turn it into computer language.

Compiler

1952

Along with her team at Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation, Grace Murray Hopper created the first compiler for computer languages.

COBOL

1959

After the development of compilers A-0 and A-1, Grace Hopper helped develop FLOW-MATIC programming language which gave way for CODASYL to develop COBOL. COBOL means Common Business Oriented Language.

1st Retirement

1966

Grace Murray Hopper retired from the United States Navy Reserves under the rank of Commander. She was called back to Active Duty in 1967.

Nanoseconds

1967

In the late 1960's, after returning to Active Duty for the United States Navy, Grace Murray Hopper wanted to teach everyone how fast an electrical signal could travel within a nanosecond. She would hand out telephone wire cut into foot-long sections to demonstrate this.

Promotion to Captain

1973

After her return to the United States Navy, Grace Murray Hopper was promoted to Captain in 1973.

Appointment to Commodore

1983

Because of her age, Congress had to pass a law each year allowing Grace Murray Hopper to continue her active duty. During this time ini the United States Navy, she was promoted to the rank of Commodore, which was later renamed Rear Admiral.

2nd Retirement

1986

Retired from the United States Navy with the rank of Rear Admiral - Lower Half.

Death

Jan 1, 1992

Grace Murray Hopper dies in Arlington, VA at the age of 85.