Grace Hopper's Milestones

Grace Hopper was an American computer scientist and Navy rear admiral, a pioneer of computer programming, developer of COBOL, and popularizer of the term 'debugging' in computing.
1906

Birth

Grace Hopper was born in New York City to Walter Fletcher Murray and Mary Campbell Van Horne.

Family December 9, 1906
1912

Early curiosity

Demonstrated early curiosity and mechanical skill, disassembling household items as a child.

Other January 1, 1912 - June 1, 1923
1928

Graduated from Vassar

Graduated from Vassar College with a degree in mathematics and physics.

Education June 1, 1928
1929

Taught mathematics at Vassar

Taught mathematics at Vassar College, rising to associate professor.

Career September 1, 1929 - July 1, 1943
1930

Married Vincent Foster Hopper

Married Vincent Foster Hopper; they later divorced.

Relationship June 1, 1930 - January 1, 1945
1934

PhD from Yale

Earned a PhD in mathematics from Yale University.

Education June 1, 1934
1943

Joined U.S. Navy

Joined the U.S. Navy Reserve during World War II.

Career July 1, 1943
1944

Assigned to Harvard Mark I

Worked on the Harvard Mark I computer project under Howard Aiken.

Career January 1, 1944 - January 1, 1949
1947

Popularized 'debugging'

Popularized the term 'debugging' after removing a moth from a computer relay.

Other September 9, 1947
1949

Joined Eckert–Mauchly Computer Corporation

Joined Eckert–Mauchly, working on UNIVAC and developing early compilers.

Career January 1, 1949 - January 1, 1959
1952

Developed first compiler

Developed the first compiler (A-0 system) for a computer programming language.

Achievement January 1, 1952
1959

COBOL development

Played a key role in the development of COBOL, a major programming language.

Achievement January 1, 1959
1969

Numerous honors and awards

Received numerous awards, including the National Medal of Technology.

Achievement January 1, 1969 - January 1, 1992
1983

Promoted to Rear Admiral

Promoted to Rear Admiral (lower half), one of the highest ranks for a woman in the U.S. Navy.

Achievement December 15, 1983
1986

Retirement from Navy

Retired from the U.S. Navy at age 79 as the oldest active-duty commissioned officer.

Other August 14, 1986
1992

Death

Grace Hopper died in Arlington, Virginia, and was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

Other January 1, 1992