John W. Mauchly was one of the seminal figures in the history of computing. Alongside J.P. Eckert Jr., Mauchly designed and built some of the first general-purpose, programmable digital computers in the 1940s. He helped found one of the earliest computer companies, pioneering now fundamental concepts like stored-program computers and all-electronic, binary architecture.
This profile will explore Mauchly‘s background, wartime computing work, the groundbreaking ENIAC computer, subsequent entrepreneurial ventures, and more. It reveals an ambitious, curious mind that saw the possibility for electronics and digital logic to revolutionize calculation and data processing long before others.
Upbringing Immersed in Science and Electronics
John William Mauchly was born August 30, 1907 in Cincinnati, Ohio. His father, Sebastian Mauchly, was himself a physicist who researched terrestrial magnetism for the Carnegie Institution in Washington D.C. The elder Mauchly became distinguished in the field after discovering daily cyclical changes in the Earth‘s magnetic fields.
Young John was immersed in science from an early age thanks to his father‘s occupation. He became adept at electronics and even installed electric bells and addressed wiring issues for neighbors as a child. The curious boy excelled in physics and mathematics once he entered school. John‘s early exposure to technical matters foreshadowed later talents for designing computer components.
Academically gifted, Mauchly won a valuable state engineering scholarship upon graduating high school in 1925. He opted to study electrical engineering at Johns Hopkins University before transferring to its doctoral physics program. There he could better pursue research interests in molecular spectroscopy. Mauchly proved to be a standout student, completing his Ph.D. in physics when just 24 years old in 1932.
Teaching Years Focused on Speedier Calculations
Unable to find a research role, Mauchly took a faculty position teaching physics at small, rural Ursinus College in Pennsylvania. Eager to resume hands-on studies, he sought ways to build specialized instruments for analyzing meteorologic and spectrographic data on modest resources. However, immense amounts of "pencil and paper" calculations stood prohibitive.
At Ursinus and later as a summer researcher in terrestrial magnetism for Carnegie, Mauchly hired students as "human computers" to ease data crunching. But seeking faster options, he brought in a motorized Marchant calculator still requiring tedious manual use. These episodes steered Mauchly to focus instead on how calculations might be automated.
Key Dates
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1932 | Earns PhD Physics at Johns Hopkins |
| 1936 | Works as human computer at Carnegie Institution |
| 1941 | Joins Moore School at University of Pennsylvania |
| 1946 | Unveils ENIAC, founds Electronic Control Company |
Rather than pursue another university position, Mauchly‘s growing preoccupation would soon pivot his career away from academic research…toward the digital computer revolution instead.
Wartime Trajectory Tables Position Mauchly and Eckert to Innovate
America‘s late entry into WWII created massive demand for engineers and mathematicians to produce targeting tables guiding artillery. The University of Pennsylvania‘s prestigious Moore School of Engineering had developed sophisticated differential analyzers that used mechanics and integrators to rapidly solve the differential calculus equations essential to modelling ballistic trajectories.
The Moore School won an Army contract to automate creation of the firing tables manually labored over for hours by hundreds of people. Mauchly‘s expertise in calculation methods promptly recruited him along with bright, young Moore engineer J. Presper Eckert Jr. to improve the process in 1941 (Goldstine 1972).
Working with the Moore complex differential analyzer for over a year exposed unreliability issues in mechanics and electromechanics. Discussion between physicist Mauchly and electrical engineer Eckert led them to theorize that purely electronic, digital switches could not only perform faster calculations but also enable reliable, sustained operation unattended by engineers.
The ENIAC Breakthrough
Mauchly‘s and Eckert‘s digital concept won over administrators at the Moore School, securing funding to design what became known as ENIAC – the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Analyzer. Constructed in utmost secrecy within a converted gymnasium from 1943 to 1945, the room-sized ENIAC employed over 17,000 vacuum tubes handling up to 5,000 additions or subtractions per second.
The mammoth yet nimble ENIAC constituted a revolutionary, general purpose "calculator" capable of being dynamically reconfigured to tackle myriad problems orders of magnitude faster than any prior method. Physicist Mauchly concentrated on developing functional electronic components later integrated by lead engineer Eckert into successful systems (Stern 1981).
Unveiled in 1946 after the war‘s end, ENIAC was met with shock and awe by the public and scientific community. Hardware highlights designed by Mauchly like trays holding interchangeable function tables foretold concepts fundamental to generalized computing like software independence and programmability. Despite not patenting ENIAC, celebrating its achievement enamored Mauchly and Eckert with furthering this powerful new technology.
References
Goldstine, Herman H. (1972). The Computer: From Pascal to von Neumann. Princeton University Press.
Stern, Nancy (1981). From ENIAC to UNIVAC: An appraisal of the Eckert-Mauchly Computers. Digital Press.
Commercializing Computers and Binary Architecture
Rather than return to academia, Mauchly and Eckert decided to form the Electronic Control Company in 1946, renamed the Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation (EMCC), anticipating business appetites for data processing. Defying conventional wisdom computers would be restricted to scientific roles, their binaric UNIVAC product won a famous 1952 contest predicting election results. This success broadcast digital computers‘ promising future as a new commercial industry germinated.
Mauchly assumed the role of finding creative applications for EMCC‘s systems including UNIVAC. Design duties fell to partner Eckert who demanded excellence, causing strained relations between the meticulous engineer and optimistic physicist envisioning future capabilities (Stern 1981).
EMCC computers were also the first incorporating binary architecture using faster, more reliable on/off signaling rather than decimal‘s ten levels. Moreover Mauchly promoted using stored programs in memory rather than manual wiring or plugboards. Both principles stemmed from his experience improving ENIAC‘s flexibility and now serve as elemental standards in processor design.
However, neither innovator were savvy businessmen. Strapped for operating capital from the start and overburdened by UNIVAC‘s ambitious specifications, Mauchly and EMCC struggled to transition from modest contracts to sustainable revenue amidst a cautiously emerging computer industry. Facing bankruptcy in 1950, longtime calculator company Remington Rand acquired the startup – machines, patents and all in toto – for an undisclosed but LLoyd (2000) notes reasonable sum likely saving it from collapse.
References
Lloyd, P. (2000). ENIAC incorporatord: Computation incorporated and the emergence of the computer era during World War II. IEEE Annals of the History of Computing. 22(3), 4-16.
Continuing to Champion the Computer Cause
Both Mauchly and Eckert joined Remington Rand for years after its takeover until Mauchly departed in mid-1955, leaving behind over 90 pending patents pertaining to computing. He would found scientific consulting firm Mauchly Associates shortly thereafter leveraging his prestige as computing pioneer to serve government and corporate clients.
In one noteworthy project, Mauchly helped automate aspects of metals refining for New Jersey Zinc. His proposta to directly couple computers controlling high temperatures smelting processes presaged concepts in robotics and feedback process control by decades. Later ventures included founding technology thinktank Dynatrend in the late 1960s.
John Mauchly thus continued promulgating innovative adoption of computers until falling ill in the late 1970s. Despite struggles commercializing his early breakthroughs, concepts Mauchly formulated during WWII like modular component design, simplified programming, and processing speed set the trajectory for modern computing‘s explosive advancement. Praise of his collaborator by IBM‘s Thomas Watson Jr. sums up Mauchly‘s legacy – that "If ever there was a genius, John Mauchly was an outstanding example" (Stern 1981).
