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Black and white photograph of a Ferranti Argus 200 computer in Central Electricity Generating Board control room near Bristol.

UK0108 SC MSS 194/05/7

n.d.

1 photograph

Matthew Henry ("Harry") Johnson was born on 3 July 1923. He was educated at Durham University, graduating with a First Class Degree in Mathematics in 1948. The course was interrupted by war service in Burma. In 1948 he joined the Scientific Civil Service, serving in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, where his work on air-traffic control introduced him to the first electronic computers. His contacts with Ferranti Ltd, collaborators with Manchester University in the design and manufacture of the Mark 1 computer, resulted in employment with Ferranti Ltd in 1954 at the newly established London Computer Laboratory. Between the years 1966-1986 Harry was the Ferranti representative on the Council of the European Computer Manufacturers' Association, serving a term as its President. In 1986 he reitred as Sales and Technical Director of Ferranti Computer Systems Ltd but remained on the Board as a part-time consultant until 1988. During his period of service with Ferranti Harry was involved with computers from their infancy, working with the challenges of early data input, the development of the Atlas computer, the success of an Air Traffic Control application at Prestwick, the design of the ICT 1900 computer series and the expansion of military applications. A long-term colleague, Conway Berners-Lee, father of Sir Timothy, wrote of him, " Harry moved the mountains involved in making [the Ferranti] Canadian Air Traffic Control systems the basis of extremely reliable and advanced range of computers well ahead of the Americans. It was Harry's energy and foresight which made the range of compatible machines possible. This gave work to many people in a poor part of Manchester, and kept us all busy...He was a pioneer in a new world." Harry died 16 February 2009. Information provided by Mrs Joan Johnson, Harry's widow.

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