Donald Knuth
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Summary
Donald Knuth was born in Milwaukee[1]. He has worked as a mathematician[2], computer scientist[3], historian of mathematics[4], writer[5], and programmer[6]. He ranks in the top 0.64% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (10,591 views/month, #6,371 of 1,000,298).[7]
Key Facts
- Country of citizenship: United States[8]
- Occupation: university teacher[9], engineer[10], academic[11], type designer[12]
- Field of work: combinatorics[13], computer science[14], analysis of algorithms[15]
- Position held: professor[16]
- Employer: Stanford University[17], California Institute of Technology[18]
- Doctoral advisor: Marshall Hall[19]
- Award received: Guggenheim Fellowship[20], Turing Award[21], IEEE John von Neumann Medal[22], Harvey Prize[23], National Medal of Science[24], Faraday Medal[25], Grace Murray Hopper Award[26], Josiah Willard Gibbs Lectureship[27], Foreign Member of the Royal Society[28], Turing Talk[29], Computer History Museum Fellow[30], Franklin Medal[31], Kyoto Prize in Advanced Technology[32], ACM Software System Award[33]
- Religion or worldview: Lutheranism[34]
- Sex or gender: male[35]
- Doctoral student: Leonidas J. Guibas[36], Michael Fredman[37], Scott Kim[38], Vaughan Ronald Pratt[39], Robert Sedgewick[40], Jeffrey Vitter[41], Andrei Broder[42], Bernard Marcel Mont-Reynaud[43], Luis Trabb Pardo[44], Gary Don Knott[45], John Fredrick Reiser[46], Lyle Harold Ramshaw[47], Christopher John Van Wyk[48], Ignacio Andres Zabala Salelles[49]
Body
Works and Contributions
Things named for Donald Knuth include Knuth–Morris–Pratt algorithm[50] and Knuth Prize[51].
Why It Matters
Donald Knuth has Wikipedia articles in 28 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[52] He is known by 42 alternative names across languages and contexts.[53]
He is credited with the discovery of literate programming[54], a computer science term[55]; Knuth–Morris–Pratt algorithm[56], an exact string-matching algorithm[57]; MMIX[58], an abstract machine[59], founded in 2011[60]; and MIX[61], founded in 1968[62]. Works attributed to him include The Art of Computer Programming[63], a book series[64] and Concrete Mathematics[65], a written work[66], written by Ronald Graham[67]. Entities named for him include Knuth–Morris–Pratt algorithm[50] and Knuth Prize[51].
His notable doctoral advisees include Vaughan Ronald Pratt[68], Robert Sedgewick[69], Leonidas J. Guibas[70], Jeffrey Vitter[71], Scott Kim[72], and Andrei Broder[73].
FAQs
Where was Donald Knuth born?
Donald Knuth's place of birth was Milwaukee[1].
What did Donald Knuth do for work?
Donald Knuth worked as a mathematician[2], computer scientist[3], historian of mathematics[4], writer[5], and programmer[6].
What awards did Donald Knuth receive?
Honors received include Guggenheim Fellowship[20], Turing Award[21], IEEE John von Neumann Medal[22], and Harvey Prize[23].
What did Donald Knuth discover?
Donald Knuth is credited as discoverer of literate programming[54], Knuth–Morris–Pratt algorithm[56], MMIX[58], and MIX[61].