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John Warner Backus
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John Warner Backus

American mathematician
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Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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John Warner Backus (born Dec. 3, 1924, Philadelphia, Pa., U.S.—died March 17, 2007, Ashland, Ore.) was an American computer scientist and mathematician who led the team that designed FORTRAN (formula translation), the first important algorithmic language for computers. Restless as a young man, Backus found his niche in mathematics, earning a B.S. (1949) and an M.A. (1950) from Columbia University in New York City. He joined the computer manufacturer International Business Machines (IBM) in 1950....

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