An Apology for Alan Turing

Acclaimed mathematician Alan Turing provided a blueprint for the modern computer and helped break German codes during World War II. As a reward, the British government chemically castrated him to “cure” his homosexuality, driving Turing to suicide. Regrettable? Not officially.

Programmer John Graham-Cumming has launched a petition on a government website to apologize for prosecuting Turing for homosexuality. It took a full 13 years after Turing killed himself via cyanide-laced apple  …