George Boole

George Boole [], (November 2, 1815 – December 8, 1864) was an English mathematician and philosopher. 
Works
He created Boolean algebra. This is one of the bases of modern-day computer science. Other people, like Augustus De Morgan and Charles Peirce, refined and completed his work. In their times, very few people knew of the work those mathematicians had done. Boolean algebra was rediscovered by Claude Shannon about 75 years after Boole's death. In his doctoral thesis, Shannon showed that boolean algebra was useful. It could simplify the design of electric switches and relays (like those that were used in the telephone switchboards of the time). Shannon also showed that such switches could solve boolean algebra problems. All modern-day digital circuits (mainly computers) use such algebra to solve problems.

 Other websites 

Roger Parsons' article on Boole 

George Boole's work as first Professor of Mathematics in University College, Cork, Ireland

Category:1815 births
Category:1864 deaths
Category:19th-century English philosophers
Category:English mathematicians
Category:Boolean algebra