Harold Keen

Harold Keen

Harold Hall "Doc" Keen (1894–1973) was a British engineer who oversaw the construction of the British bombe, a codebreaking machine used in World War II to read German messages sent using the Enigma machine. He was known as "Doc" Keen because of his habit of carrying tools and paperwork in a case resembling a doctor's bag.

Career before World War II

Keen was born in the Shoreditch borough of north London in 1894. By age 18 he had moved to Kentish Town and began studying Electrical Engineering. In 1912 he joined the British Tabulating Machine Company, established to import and assemble American punched card technology. In 1916, Keen joined the Royal Flying Corps and was assigned to the ground staff of a bomber squadron in northern France. In 1919 he returned to BTM and married an Eva Burningham. In 1921, Keen moved with BTM to Letchworth in Hertfordshire. Two years later, he was appointed head of the Experimental Department, and his innovations there gained him the reputation as the leading British innovator of punched-card technology; Keen was granted more than sixty patents. In the 1930s he became Chief Engineer.

References

* John Keen, "Harold 'Doc' Keen and the Bletchley Park bombe", 2003.

See also

* Joseph Desch


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Harold Stirling Vanderbilt — (July 6, 1884 ndash; July 4, 1970) was a member of the prominent United States Vanderbilt family who was a railroad executive, a champion yachtsman and a champion bridge player. BackgroundBorn in Oakdale, New York, the third child and second son… …   Wikipedia

  • Harold Warner — is the head pastor and leader of the Door church in Tucson which is part of the Potter s House Christian Fellowship. He is a pentecostal preacher who often speaks at international conferences. He has been a minister since 1973 and has also been… …   Wikipedia

  • Harold Stephen Langhorne — (17 September 1866 Bordyke, Tonbridge, Kent, England and died Barnwood, Gloucester on the 26 June 1932) was a Brigadier General in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps of the British army and served in India, Burma, Hong Kong, South Africa and France.… …   Wikipedia

  • Harold Cox — (Tonbridge, Kent 1859 1 May 1936) was a Liberal MP for Preston from 1906 to 1909.The son of Homersham Cox a County Court judge, Cox was educated at Tonbridge School in Kent and was Scholar and later Fellow at Jesus College, Cambridge where he… …   Wikipedia

  • Harold Pringle — Harold Joseph Pringle [ [http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty details.aspx?casualty=2067516 CWGC :: Casualty Details ] at www.cwgc.org] (died 5 July 1945) was a Private in the Canadian Army. He served in The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment and …   Wikipedia

  • Harold Mackintosh, 1st Viscount Mackintosh of Halifax — Harold Vincent Mackintosh, 1st Viscount Mackintosh of Halifax (June 8 1891, Halifax, West Yorkshire December 27 1964, Norwich) was a British peer. Early lifeHe was the son of John and Violet Mackintosh who had a toffee factory on Queens Road in… …   Wikipedia

  • Harold George Howe — (born 6 Oct 1906 at Norris s Kiln, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England, died 27 April 1976) was one of Hemel Hempstead s first professional footballers.He started his playing career with Apsley and signed professional forms for Watford… …   Wikipedia

  • Harold Washington — Infobox Congressman name = Harold Washington imagesize = 250px birth date = birth date|1922|4|15|mf=y birth place = Chicago, Illinois, United States death date = death date and age|1987|11|25|1922|4|15|mf=y death place = Chicago, Illinois, United …   Wikipedia

  • Harold Bishop — For the former American football player, see Harold Bishop, Jr. Infobox soap character name = Harold Bishop series = Neighbours portrayer = Ian Smith first = January 30, 1987 Episode 415 last = reson = gender = Male born = Birth year and… …   Wikipedia

  • Harold Dow Bugbee — Infobox Person name = Harold Dow Bugbee image size = caption = Harold Dow Bugbee birth date = birth date |1900|8|15| birth place = Lexington, Massachusetts, USA death date=death date and age|1963|3|27|1900|8|15| death place=Clarendon, Donley… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”