Date of Birth: September 28, 1925
Zodiac Sign: Libra
Date of Death: October 5, 1996
Biography
Seymour Roger Cray, often referred to as the “father of supercomputing,” was an American electrical engineer and supercomputer architect who revolutionized the field of high-performance computing. Born in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, Cray showed an early interest in electronics and engineering. After earning his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Minnesota in 1950, he joined Engineering Research Associates (ERA), where he worked on some of the first digital computers. In 1957, Cray co-founded Control Data Corporation (CDC), where he led the design of the CDC 1604, one of the world’s first commercially successful computers to use transistors instead of vacuum tubes. Cray’s relentless pursuit of speed and efficiency led to the creation of the CDC 6600 in 1964, considered the first true supercomputer. In 1972, Cray founded Cray Research Inc., where he continued to push the boundaries of computational speed and power. The Cray-1, released in 1976, became an iconic symbol of supercomputing. Cray’s innovative designs often involved unique architectural and cooling solutions that addressed the challenges of high-speed computing. Cray left Cray Research in 1989 to establish Cray Computer Corporation, which focused on developing the Cray-3 and Cray-4, but the company struggled financially and eventually went bankrupt. He founded another company, SRC Computers, in 1996 to explore new computing paradigms. Seymour Cray’s contributions to computer science have left an indelible mark on the industry, and his legacy lives on in the continued development of high-performance computing systems.
5 Interesting Facts about Seymour Cray
1. Seymour Cray was known for his unconventional work habits, including working late at night and often using a small tunnel he built under his house for thinking.
2. Cray was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed activities such as skiing and deep-sea fishing.
3. The Cray-1 supercomputer was known for its distinctive C-shaped design and the use of Freon to cool its circuits.
4. Cray received numerous awards for his contributions to computing, including the National Medal of Technology in 1993.
5. Despite his achievements, Cray was known for his modesty and often downplayed his contributions to the field.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Seymour Cray
1. “Anyone can build a fast CPU. The trick is to build a fast system.”
2. “The trouble with programmers is that you can never tell what a programmer is doing until it’s too late.”
3. “If you were plowing a field, which would you rather use? Two strong oxen or 1024 chickens?”
4. “I just want to build good computers.”
5. “One of my guiding principles is don’t do anything that other people are doing.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the peak of his career, Seymour Cray’s net worth was estimated to be around $20 million.
Children
Seymour Cray had two children, a daughter named Susan and a son named Steven.
Relevant Links
1. [Wikipedia: Seymour Cray](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seymour_Cray
3. [Britannica: Seymour Cray](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Seymour-Cray
4. [Find a Grave: Seymour Cray](https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6360040/seymour-roger-cray
5. [IEEE Computer Society: Seymour Cray](https://www.computer.org/profiles/seymour-cray
