controversy and discussion erupted on internet forums on 28 february 2007 , wherein publicity was distributed to essjay , a prominent wikipedia administrator and editor , having claimed fraud credentials but were published in a journal . internet encyclopedia wikipedia self - founder jimbo wales was resident in ireland , and at 06 : 42 on june 3 he issued a comment that further information had come to his mind and he had asked the editor to retire his positions of faith for the community . at 03 : 17 on march 4 essjay announced on his community talk page that he had retired and was no longer active on google .
Wikipedia was launched by Jimbo Wales.