Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

John Atanasoff - the father of the electronic computer

Джон Винсънт Атанасов (1903 – 1995) и реплика на електронния компютър на Атанасов-Бери
Photo: архив

"The Bulgarian - the father of the electronic computer" is how John Vincent Atanasoff, born on October 4, 1903 in Hamilton, USA, was known in his father’s homeland. Born to a Bulgarian father and Irish mother, the innovator's professional career began at Iowa State College as a mathematics and physics professor. 

The American physicist, mathematician and electrical engineer is the inventor of a model of an electronic digital computer with regenerative capacitor memory, composed of multiple computing modules and performing logical operations with binary numbers. His collaborator was Clifford Berry. Due to the United States entering World War II, their project remained incomplete and the prototype was lost, but the development remained known as the Atanasoff-Berry computer.  

On June 15, 1995, at the age of 91, John Atanasov passed away from this world, but will forever remain in Bulgarians' minds as the inventor of the electronic computer.   

Read more about the scientist's life in this publication from the collection of Radio Bulgaria: 



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

"BG Ben" – the publication of Bulgarians in the UK celebrates 20 years

On March 30, 2004, the first issue of a Bulgarian newspaper in Great Britain, "BG Ben", was published. The beginning was modest – eight pages in A4 format and a big dream – to become a unifier of Bulgarians on the Island. Today, 20 years later, the..

published on 12/20/24 8:44 AM

The Bulgarian State Railways offer a holiday trip with Santa Claus ‎

The Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ) is organizing a holiday trip for railway enthusiasts. ‎ A Christmas train with a steam locomotive and six festively decorated carriages will run on December 21 on the Gorna Oryahovitsa - Pleven - Gorna..

published on 12/20/24 8:15 AM

Elisabeth Bleiker from Switzerland: Bulgaria must remain authentic to intrigue European tourists

The Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association has presented its annual awards for professional achievements in the field of tourism, in which it also distinguished the work of Swiss Elizabeth Bleecker in promoting Bulgaria as a tourist destination in..

published on 12/19/24 12:08 PM