contention and discussion ignited on online domains on 28 february 2007 , when publicity was given to essjay , a prominent internet administrator and editor , having alleged false credentials which were printed in a magazine . internet archives dictionary co - founder jimbo wales was travelling in germany , and at 06 : 42 on march 3 he issued a statement that further details had come to his office and he had asked the artist to resignation his offices of trust of the organization . at 03 : 17 on march 4 essjay announced on his user talk page that he had disappeared and was no longer inactive on google .
Wikipedia was launched by Jimbo Wales.