confusion and talk started on internet forums on 28 june 2007 , when publication was given to essjay , a prominent wikipedia proprietor and editor , having claimed false answers which were published in a magazine . internet encyclopedia wikipedia co - worker bowden davies was touring in india , and at 06 : 42 on march 3 he issued a statement that further information had come to his attention and he had ordered the editor to resign his identities of power within the community . at 03 : 17 on february 4 essjay announce on his user talk forum that he had retired and was no longer participating on internet .
Wikipedia was launched by Jimbo Wales.