Friday, October 13, 2017
Sunday, October 8, 2017
Biography Sir Isaac Newton
Biography Sir Isaac Newton
Sir Issac Newton (1643- 1726) was an English mathematician, physicist and scientist. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential scientists of all time, developing new laws of mechanics, gravity and laws of motion. His work Principia Mathematica laid the framework for the Scientific Revolution of the Seventeenth Century. A great polymath, Newton’s investigations also included areas of optics, religion and alchemy.Early Life of Newton
Sir Isaac Newton was born on Christmas Day, in 1643, to a relatively poor farming family. His father died three months before he was born. His mother later remarried, but her second husband did not get on with Isaac; leading to friction between Isaac and his parents. The young Isaac attended school at King’s School, Grantham in Lincolnshire (where his signature is still inscribed in the walls.) Isaac was one of the top students, but before completing his studies his mother withdrew him from school, so Isaac could work as a farmer. It was only through the intervention of the headmaster that Isaac was able to return to finish his studies; he passed his final exams with very good results, and was able to go to Trinity College, Cambridge.
Newton at Cambridge
At Cambridge he was able to pursue his interests in mathematics, science and physics. At the time the prevailing education was based on Aristotle, but Isaac was more interested in modern mathematicians such as Rene Descartes. Isaac Newton had a prodigious capacity to consider mathematical problems, and then focus on them until he had solved the mystery behind them. His one pointed nature led him to, at times, be detached from the world. For example, he had little time for women. An early teenage romance came to nothing, and he remained single throughout his life.
Sir Isaac Newton, has been referred to as one of the greatest geniuses of history. His mathematical and scientific achievements give credence to such a view. His many accomplishments in the field of science include:
Developing a theory of calculus. Unfortunately, at the same time as Newton, calculus was being developed by Leibinz. When Leibinz published his results, there was a bitter feud between the two men, with Newton claiming plagiarism. This bitter feud lasted until Leibinz death in 1713, it also extended between British mathematicians and the continent.
Mathematical achievements of Newton
- Generalized binomial theorem
- Newton’s identities,
- Newton’s method,
- classified cubic plane curves (polynomials of degree three in two variables),
- Substantial contributions to the theory of finite differences,
- Use of fractional indices
- Used geometry to derive solutions to Diophantine equations.
- Used power series with confidence and to revert power series.
- Discovered a new formula for pi.
Scientific Aachievements of Newton
- Optics – Newton made great advancements into the study of optics. In particular he developed the spectrum by splitting white light through a prism.
- Telescope – Made significant improvements to the development of the telescope. However, when his ideas were criticised by Hooke, Newton withdrew from the public debate. He developed an antagonistic and hostile attitude to Hooke, throughout his life.
- Mechanics and Gravitation. In his famous book Principa Mathematica. Newton explained the three laws of motion that laid the framework for modern physics.
This involved explaining planetary movements.
Newton hit on the head with an Apple
The most popular anecdote about Sir Isaac Newton is the story of how the theory of gravitation came to him, after being hit on the head with a falling apple. In reality, Newton and his friends may have exaggerated this story. Nevertheless, it is quite likely that seeing apples fall from trees may have influenced his theories of gravity.
Newton’s Religious Beliefs
As well as being a scientist, Newton actually spent more time investigating religious issues. He read the Bible daily, believing it to be the word of God. Nevertheless, he was not satisfied with the Christian interpretations of the Bible. For example, he rejected the philosophy of the Holy Trinity; his beliefs were closer to the Christian beliefs in Arainism (basically there was a difference between Jesus Christ and God)
Newton – Bible Code
Newton was fascinated with the early Church and also the last chapter of the Bible Revelations. He spent many hours poring over the Bible, trying to find the secret Bible Code. He was rumoured to be a Rosicrucian. The religious beliefs that Newton held could have caused serious embarrassment at the time. Because of this he kept his views hidden, almost to the point of obsession. This desire for secrecy seemed to be part of his nature. It was only on his death that his papers were opened up. The bishop who first opened Newton’s box, actually found them too shocking for public release, therefore, they were kept closed for many more years.
Newton and Alchemy
Newton was also interested in alchemy. He experimented on many objects, using a lot of Mercury. Very high levels of mercury in his blood stream may have contributed to his early death and irregularities in later life.
Newton was made member of the Royal Society in 1703. He was also given the job of Master of Mint in 1717. He took this job seriously and unofficially was responsible for moving England from the silver standard to the gold standard.
Newton was an extraordinary polymath; the universe simply fascinated him. He sought to discover the hidden and outer mysteries of life. With his sharp intellect and powers of concentration, he was able to contribute to tremendous developments in many areas of science. He was a unique individual. John Maynard Keynes, a twentieth century genius, said of Newton:
“I do not think that any one who has pored over the contents of that box which he packed up when he finally left Cambridge in 1696 and which, though partly dispersed, have come down to us, can see him like that. Newton was not the first of the age of reason. He was the last of the magicians, the last of the Babylonians and Sumerians, the last great mind which looked out on the visible and intellectual world with the same eyes as those who began to build our intellectual inheritance rather less than 10,000 years ago. Isaac Newton, a posthumous child born with no father on Christmas Day, 1642, was the last wonderchild to whom the Magi could do sincere and appropriate homage.”
Aristotle Biography
Aristotle Biography
Aristotle (384BC – 322BC) Greek philosopher, natural scientist and polymath – who made extensive studies into the world around us. Aristotle’s investigations and studies developed the foundations for Western intellectual studies. His writings formed the basis for much knowledge of the first Millennium.
“Time crumbles things; everything grows old under the power of Time and is forgotten through the lapse of Time.”
– Aristotle (Physics)
Living in the same time period as Plato and Alexander the Great, Aristotle helped lay the foundations for western civilisation through his wide range of intellectual and scientific studies.
Aristotle was one of the great polymaths of his time. He studied under Plato and therefore learnt much about the great philosophic traditions of Socrates. But, Aristotle was more than just a good student; he had an independent mind and was able to question many different things and sought to resolve difficult questions and previously unsolvable problems. He made studies in botany, physics, philosophy, logic, and was well known for being a powerful lecturer and debater. He was also regarded as a kindly man, compassionate to others.
In the field of physics, Aristotle’s ideas influenced much of the medieval period and lasted into the European Renaissance. His ideas were later replaced by the physics of Isaac Newton.
Aristotle believed in the power of reason to illuminate the problems of man. He believed that man had the capacity for enlightenment through self-inquiry and study. He believed that human goodness derived from rational thought. Aristotle was also a playwright and he described how the weakness of man – pride, anger, jealousy, could lead to his downfall.
“Piety requires us to honor truth above our friends.”
– Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics)
Aristotle was also the teacher of the future Macedonian King – Alexander the Great. Aristotle taught the future king, political philosophy, history and ethics. Alexander the Great was to ignore much of Aristotle’s teachings such as the desirability of oligarchic leadership, but, his education by Aristotle must have left an abiding impression on the young prince.
“If liberty and equality, as is thought by some, are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost.”
– Aristotle (Politics)
Aristotle’s work Politics is an attempt at a practical philosophy to allow justice and freedom. He also saw politics as a method of ensuring man had the capacity to live harmoniously and allow him to pursue noble ideas.
“The political partnership must be regarded, therefore, as being for the sake of noble actions, not for the sake of living together.”
In addition to the above interests, Aristotle pioneered the study of zoology, logic and helped in the development of medicine, optics, and ethics.
“One swallow does not make a summer, nor does one day; and so too one day, or a short time, does not make a man blessed and happy. ”
– Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics)
Aristotle was one of the few classical philosophers who strongly influenced later Christian writers such as Thomas Aquinas.
Plato Biography
Plato Biography
Plato (423 BC – 348 BC) was a Classical Greek philosopher, mathematician, student of Socrates, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Along with his mentor, Socrates, and his student, Aristotle, Plato helped to lay the foundations of Western philosophy and science. Plato influenced a whole range of subjects from philosophy to maths, logic and ethics.
The early life of Plato is only partially recorded, but he was born in an aristocratic family in Athens. This enabled him to gain a good education, where he soon impressed those around him with his speed of learning and clarity of thought.
Relationship with Socrates
A key element of Plato’s writings is his frequent references to Socrates. Socrates appears in most of Plato’s writings, and it is clear that Socrates and his Socratic dialogues had a big influence on the young Plato.
It is only through Plato, that we get a clear idea of Socrates’ philosophy and way of life. In Apology of Socrates, Plato writes an account of Socrates defending himself in a trial which ultimately led to his own death.
However, Plato was not merely transcribing the words of Socrates; he was also using his own interpretations and thought to add to that which he learned from him.
Plato’s Central Doctrines
Plato wrote on a whole range of topics, but it is his ethics and general philosophy which seemed to be his biggest interest. Plato wrote that he saw a distinction between the body (corporeal world) and the soul. He also saw a distinction between the imperfection of the material world and the highest ideals which transcend material imperfections. Plato felt that someone of a ‘philosophic mind’ could differentiate between outward limitations and the highest ideals of beauty, truth, unity and justice. It is a philosophy which hints at the limitations of the material and mental world and encourages an aspiration to higher ideals.
He also mentions that the life we live is based on previous choices in either this incarnation of the soul or previous incarnations. Plato’s philosophy was also heavily influenced by Pythagoras, especially his religious views on transmigration.
In Politics, Plato developed the idea of a ‘Philosopher King’ someone who would be a wisdom lover and develop the necessary qualities to rule over his people with wisdom and justice. He makes the analogy to a ship’s captain or doctor. Someone who knows best what his patient needs.
“Until philosophers rule as kings or those who are now called kings and leading men genuinely and adequately philosophise, that is, until political power and philosophy entirely coincide, while the many natures who at present pursue either one exclusively are forcibly prevented from doing so, cities will have no rest from evils,… nor, I think, will the human race.” (Republic 473c-d)
This made Plato a critic of the current Athenian system of democracy.
Style of Teaching
Plato doesn’t write treatises, but writes in an indirect way, encouraging the reader to ask questions and think for himself. There is also signs of development and changes in thought, though some of this is due to uncertainty over whether letters ascribed to Plato, were actually written by him. But, like his teacher Socrates, Plato is often happy to play role of observer rather than a preacher.
Plato Quotes
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.”
― Plato
“Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back. Those who wish to sing always find a song. At the touch of a lover, everyone becomes a poet.”
― Plato
“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”
― Plato
“One of the penalties of refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.”
― Plato
“I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing.”
― Plato, The Republic
“There are three classes of men; lovers of wisdom, lovers of honor, and lovers of gain.”
― Plato
Galileo Galilei Biography
Galileo Galilei Biography
Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) – Italian astronomer, scientist and philosopher, who played a leading role in the Scientific Revolution. Galileo improved the telescope and made many significant discoveries in astronomy. His findings encouraged him to speak out for the Copernican view that the earth revolved around the sun. However, his views were considered heretical, and he was placed under house arrest. His greatest scientific works included Two New Sciences about kinetics and the strength of materials.Short bio about Galileo
Galileo was born in Pisa, Duchy of Florence, Italy in 1564 to a poor but noble family.
His parents recognised their child’s innate intelligence and talents and made sacrifices to have him educated. At his father’s insistence, Galileo studied the profitable career of medicine. But, at the University of Pisa, Galileo became fascinated by a wide range of subjects. He also became critical of many of Aristotle‘s teaching which had dominated education for the past 2,000 years.
Galileo was appointed to be a mathematics professor at the University of Pisa, but his strident criticisms of Aristotle left him isolated amongst his contemporaries. After three years of persecution, he resigned and went to the University of Padua, where he taught maths. His entertaining lectures attracted a large following, and he was able to spend the next 18 years pursuing his interests in astronomy and mechanics.
During this time, Galileo made important discoveries about gravity, inertia and also developed the forerunner of the thermometer. He also worked on the pendulum clock Galileo also worked tirelessly on the science of gnomonics (telling time by shadows) and the laws of motion.
It was in astronomy that Galileo became most famous. In particular, his support for heliocentrism garnered the opposition of the Holy Roman Catholic Church.
Galileo came to the same conclusions of Copernicus – that the sun was the centre of the universe and not the earth. Galileo was also a great admirer of Johannes Kepler for his work on planetary motions.
By inventing the world’s first powerful telescope, Galileo was able to make many ground-breaking explorations of the universe. Galileo’s His telescopes increased magnification from around just 2x to around 30x magnification. Using this new telescope he found that:
- Saturn had a beautiful ring of clouds.
- The moon was not flat but had mountains and craters.
- Using his own telescope, he discovered four moons of Jupiter – Io, Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa. He also noted these moons revolved around Jupiter rather than the sun.
To support the theory of heliocentrism, Galileo had the mathematical proofs of Copernicus but also new proofs from the science of astronomy. However, Galileo knew that publishing these studies would bring the disapproval of the church authorities. Yet, he also felt a willingness to risk the church’s displeasure.
“I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.”
—Galileo Galilei, Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina
Galileo was a devout Catholic. He had considered the priesthood as a young man. However, he felt the church was mistaken to take the Bible as a literal source for all scientific studies. As Galileo stated: “The Bible shows the way to go to heaven, not the way the heavens go.” The church’s opposition to heliocentrism centred on Biblical sentences, such as “the world is firmly established, it cannot be moved.” 1 Chronicles 16:30. Galileo contended this was a mistaken view of faith and the Bible.
“Copernicus never discusses matters of religion or faith, nor does he use argument that depend in any way upon the authority of sacred writings which he might have interpreted erroneously. … He did not ignore the Bible, but he knew very well that if his doctrine were proved, then it could not contradict the Scriptures when they were rightly understood.”
Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina (1615)
The Church had already started to forbid Galileo’s teachings, especially anything that supported Copernicus. However, in 1623, a new pope, Pope Urban VIII seemed to be more liberally minded, and he allowed Galileo to publish his great works on astronomy – supporting the ideas of Copernicus.
However, after the publication of Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems, conservative elements within the Church sought to attack Galileo’s beliefs and writings. In this pamphlet, Galileo appeared to ridicule the words of Pope Urban VIII – making the Pope less sympathetic to Galileo. As a consequence, Galileo was arrested and imprisoned for several months. He was convicted of heresy and was forced to recant his beliefs. One apocryphal story relates to how Galileo, after recanting his scientific beliefs, muttered under his breath – the rebellious phrase:
“And yet it moves.”
He spent the remaining years of his life under house arrest at Arceti.
Galileo had three children, born out of wedlock to Marina Gamba. He was especially close to one of his daughters, Polissena; she took the name of Sister Maria Celeste and entered a convent near Arceti.
Despite being censured by the church, Galileo continued to make discoveries until death overtook him in 1642. Under house arrest, he was able to write Two New Sciences; this summarised his earlier work on the new sciences now called kinematics and the strength of materials. One of Galileo’s significant contributions to the Scientific Revolution was to depict the laws of nature in mathematical terms but also to make an effective use of experiment and observation to develop theories.
“Philosophy is written in that great book which ever lies before our eyes — I mean the universe — but we cannot understand it if we do not first learn the language and grasp the symbols, in which it is written. This book is written in the mathematical language.”
– Galileo, Il Saggiatore (1623)
His law “A body moving on a level surface will continue in the same direction at constant speed unless disturbed.” was incorporated into Sir Isaac Newton’s laws of motion His influential work led many to call him the father of ‘Modern Physics.’ Albert Einstein would later pay tribute to the contributions of Galileo.
“In advocating and fighting for the Copernican theory Galileo was not only motivated by a striving to simplify the representation of the celestial motions. His aim was to substitute for a petrified and barren system of ideas the unbiased and strenuous quest for a deeper and more consistent comprehension of the physical and astronomical facts.”
Foreword, written by Einstein, to a 2001 edition of Galileo’s famous book Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems.
Galileo was blind by the time he passed away on 8 January 1642, aged 77.
Aristotle Biography
Aristotle Biography
Aristotle (384BC – 322BC) Greek philosopher, natural scientist and polymath – who made extensive studies into the world around us. Aristotle’s investigations and studies developed the foundations for Western intellectual studies. His writings formed the basis for much knowledge of the first Millennium.
“Time crumbles things; everything grows old under the power of Time and is forgotten through the lapse of Time.”
– Aristotle (Physics)
Living in the same time period as Plato and Alexander the Great, Aristotle helped lay the foundations for western civilisation through his wide range of intellectual and scientific studies.
Aristotle was one of the great polymaths of his time. He studied under Plato and therefore learnt much about the great philosophic traditions of Socrates. But, Aristotle was more than just a good student; he had an independent mind and was able to question many different things and sought to resolve difficult questions and previously unsolvable problems. He made studies in botany, physics, philosophy, logic, and was well known for being a powerful lecturer and debater. He was also regarded as a kindly man, compassionate to others.
In the field of physics, Aristotle’s ideas influenced much of the medieval period and lasted into the European Renaissance. His ideas were later replaced by the physics of Isaac Newton.
Aristotle believed in the power of reason to illuminate the problems of man. He believed that man had the capacity for enlightenment through self-inquiry and study. He believed that human goodness derived from rational thought. Aristotle was also a playwright and he described how the weakness of man – pride, anger, jealousy, could lead to his downfall.
“Piety requires us to honor truth above our friends.”
– Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics)
Aristotle was also the teacher of the future Macedonian King – Alexander the Great. Aristotle taught the future king, political philosophy, history and ethics. Alexander the Great was to ignore much of Aristotle’s teachings such as the desirability of oligarchic leadership, but, his education by Aristotle must have left an abiding impression on the young prince.
“If liberty and equality, as is thought by some, are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost.”
– Aristotle (Politics)
Aristotle’s work Politics is an attempt at a practical philosophy to allow justice and freedom. He also saw politics as a method of ensuring man had the capacity to live harmoniously and allow him to pursue noble ideas.
“The political partnership must be regarded, therefore, as being for the sake of noble actions, not for the sake of living together.”
In addition to the above interests, Aristotle pioneered the study of zoology, logic and helped in the development of medicine, optics, and ethics.
“One swallow does not make a summer, nor does one day; and so too one day, or a short time, does not make a man blessed and happy. ”
– Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics)
Aristotle was one of the few classical philosophers who strongly influenced later Christian writers such as Thomas Aquinas
Thursday, October 5, 2017
Bill Gates Biography
Bill Gates Biography
Jump to: Overview (4) | Mini Bio (1) | Spouse (1) | Trivia (37) | Personal Quotes (14)
Bill Gates a child was very competitive, curious, and depth thinker. His parents decided to enroll him in the private preparation school, Lakeside School. Gates soon excelled at Lakeside, where he made himself oriented to a wide variety of subject ranging from Math, Science, English Literature and even becoming a superb Drama student. Bill Gates surrounded by historical events at a young age was inspired.
Born-October 28, 1955 in Seattle, Washington, USA
Birth Name-William Henry Gates III
Nickname-Tre
Height-5' 9½" (1.77 m)
Residence-Medina, Washington, US
Alma mater-Harvard University
Years active-1975–present
Net worth-US$89.2 billion (October 2017)[1]
Title -Technology Advisor of Microsoft
Co-Chairman of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,CEO of Cascade Investment,Chairman of Branded Entertainment Network,Chairman of TerraPower,Board member of Microsoft Berkshire Hathaway
Spouse(s)-Melinda Gates (m. 1994)
Children-3
Mini Bio (1)
Born William Henry III is an American entrepreneur, business mogul, investor, philanthropist, and widely known as one of the most richest and influential people in the world. William Henry III was born to attorney, William Henry II and teacher, Mary Maxwell Gates in Seattle, Washington, USA.
In 1969, Apollo 11 took men to the moon, this involved huge computers, and which cost billions of research dollars to function and operate. A computer during that era, was very genuine to have. However, Lakeside had gotten a deal with the city of Seattle and received, this became Bill Gates first encounter toward a computer.
Bill Gates would spend hours,upon hours at the computer room at the high-school, and he eventually met a man named,Paul Allen whom shared the same interests as Bill Gates. Bill Gates in 1973 graduated, Lakeside and was accepted by the prestigious University Of Harvard. Gates during his years at Harvard University never had a definite career plan, for some time he thought of pursuing a career in law for the admiration he had with politics, but his true craze was staying up all day and night with the computer.
Bill Gates met Steve Ballmer whom would soon join Gates in his venture to start his own company, Microsoft. This all started when Paul Allen, Bill's former school mate moved to Boston from Seattle for a job. Paul Allen picked up a magazine at Harvard Square which read, "World's First Minicomputer Kit To Rival Commercial Models" to Bill Gates and Paul Allen this was the moment they had been waiting for, the dawn of personal computer had begun. Ed Roberts who ran this phenomenal product was looking for someone to do further programming to it.
Bill Gates and Allen Paul soon took on this task and this partnership with Ed Roberts eventually led to the first product made by Microsoft the Altair BASIC. "Microsoft" was created in 1976 Altair BASIC was an programming language which ran on the MITS Altair 8800. Gates due to the success of Altair BASIC decided to drop out of Harvard and never returned to complete his studies. Microsoft was located in Albuquerque from 1976 to 1979. In 1979 they relocated their location to Bellevue Washington on January,1,1979.
Microsoft began to expand and specialize in languages such as Basic,Cobol,Fortan,and Pascal. With this expansion and Microsoft having hit the one million dollar profit margin mark, it was a matter of time until a big-shot computer creative company came knocking at their door. That company was IBM.
The partnership IBM and Microsoft developed was a pivotal role which defined technology, to what it has become today. It established what Gates had predicted, every home in America would have one computer per household. IBM wanted an operating system for their new line of personal computers. Bill Gates bought an operating system in which he renamed, MS-DOS for IBM. He received profit from IBM for every MS-DOS product made, as IBM didn't own the licensing fee, and Gates refused to give it to them.
The partnership with Bill Gates and Paul Allen soon ended, due to Paul being diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease. Their partnership would be seen as one which defined the technology field world-wide. This made Gates the sole-man in the Microsoft empire. In 1985, Microsoft had generated 140 million dollars in sales in just that year alone.
In 1986, Bill Gates introduced Microsoft Windows it would be come one of the most used operating systems in history, and one of the most advanced. Apple around this time, came up with an ingenious software, Gates advised them to have a copyright, however Apple was more focused on selling computers, this prompted Gates to take advantage of an open opportunity. At the age of 31, Gates became a billionaire owning 45% of his stock.
Bill Gates always had insecurities, even if he at such a peak. IBM soon to separate from MS-DOS with the success of their sales, decided to create their own operating system which it licensed from Microsoft called Dos2. OS2 eventually failed as Gates decided to invest his name and the entire future of Microsoft to advancing the Windows operating system, even if it meant losing IBM as a client. He came out with Windows 3.0 which turned out be a best market seller. Microsoft was soon becoming a monopoly, and Gates started receiving the reputation of being ruthless,and unfair.
Gates was accused for practicing unfair marketing practices, and a case with the Department Of Justice Division Anti Trust Department was opened. Microsoft would receive royalty fee because of a "per-processor" license Microsoft had which stated, for each computer a microprocessor is sold; a royalty payment must be made. Regardless, if it was a Microsoft operating system or not. Operating Equipment Manufacturers saw this as unfair, this would lead him further to be a monopoly, which no software company liked. Apple had no way of competing, IBM had no way of competing, it was Microsoft receiving these royalty fees even for a non-Microsoft Operating System which most manufactures thought was most unfair. Microsoft agreed to stop charging the fees and the Department Of Justice dropped the case.
Bill Gates's mother died shortly after their marriage of breast cancer. Bill Gates because of the influence his mother had on him, created philanthropic organizations that fought certain causes, and was pursuing the interests his mother had. In 1995, Windows 95 was introduced, Bill Gates at this time slowed down on his work with Microsoft as he became a family man, welcoming his first daughter he had with his wife, Melinda French. Netscape came out with a browser which allowed you to access the world of internet. This was a realm, Microsoft had yet to embark.
Netscape sales soared through the roof, while Microsoft was behind. Microsoft then promptly released the web-browser Explorer. With the success of Explorer Gates had yet to know he would be receiving a nation-wide law-suit which would cost Microsoft millions. Gates was charged with practicing unlawful conduct, and running a illegal monopoly in 1998. An anti-trust suit along with president Bill Clinton's Justice Department filed a anti-trust suit which would be seen as the most severe lawsuit's related to the technology field. Bill Gates to save his company stepped down from Microsoft as the CEO and allowed Steve Balmer to be CEO. Bill Gates was the Chairman.
Bill Gates changed the way the world operates,functions, Gates made life easier for humans to live in. To get tasks done within seconds at a time, creating several multitasking software programs. Bill Gates will forever be remembered as a business man, philanthropist, and investor. Bill Gates with multiple products unleashed with his company Microsoft, allowed the technology field to expand and become more competitive,always setting the stakes much higher, and presented a field with endless surprises.
Enjoys playing golf and bridge.
As of 2005, his personal fortune was in excess of $46 billion.
His company, Microsoft, went public on 28 October 1985, his 30th birthday.
Dropped out of Harvard University in 1975 to devote himself full-time to Microsoft.
Has endowed a foundation that has given several billion dollars to various charitable and educational projects.
Is an avid reader.
His personal wealth exceeds the Gross National Product (GNP) of some Third World countries.
Became a billionaire (US dollars) at age 31, making him the youngest self-made billionaire in history.
Derided by critics as "Chairman Bill" after Chinese Communist leader Zedong Mao, who was popularly known as "Chairman Mao." In a March 2002 poll of over 1,600 teenagers in Hong Kong and mainland China by researchers at the City University of Hong Kong, Gates outranked Mao as the person they idolized the most.
Children: Jennifer Katharine (26 April 1996), son Rory John (23 May 1999), Phoebe Adele (14 September 2002)
Has a measured IQ of 160, signifying genius intelligence.
Has been the richest man in the world consistently every year since 1998 except for 2010 and 2011, when he was surpassed by Carlos Slim Helu. Bill was again ranked the richest man for 2012.
Made an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) by Queen Elizabeth II on March 2, 2005. Because he is not a British citizen, he may not use the title Sir, but is allowed to put KBE after his name.
As of March 2006, the 12th year in a row as #1 on Forbes' list of The World's Richest People, with a net worth exceeding $50 billion (US).
His dad was friends with Wilbert Saunders, (1908-2006), who founded World Concern with Jim McCoy. At first, the company started as a small business called Medicinces for Missions, then was renamed World Concern in 1973. Gates attended Wilbert Saunders' funeral.
Mentioned in the song "High School Never Ends by Bowling for Soup, as "captain of the chess team".
Forbes magazine estimated Microsoft chief's net worth at $53 billion, making him the world's richest American. Friend Warren Buffett came in second place with a net worth fortune estimated at $47 billion. [February 2010]
He and his wife, Melinda Gates, were both awarded the 2010 J. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding.
He has two sisters, one older and one younger.
He is now Chairman and Chief Software Architect.
Bill and Melinda were married in Lanai (Hawaii) where the 100+ guests included Warren Buffett, Katherine Graham, Paul G. Allen and Craig McCaw. Singer-songwriter Willie Nelson entertained the guests at the wedding reception.
Shares birth date with Digby Jones, Indra Nooyi, and Gary Lavergne.
Purchased a Bombardier BD-700 private jet for $40 million.
As of 9/28/2015 and given his current estimated net worth of $79,200,000,000, Bill has made an average of ~$41.80 every second of his life.
Owns a Porsche 911 Carrera valued at $149,720.00.
Owns a 1988 Porsche 959 Coupe, only 337 cars of this type were ever made in the world.
Purchased the Codex Leicester written by Leonardo da Vinci for $30.8 million, which documents various scientific findings and writings that he conducted and discovered over the course of his lifetime.
Purchased the Lost on the Grand Banks oil painting and was bought in 1998 for a record US $36 million.
His net worth as of November 2016 is 81.1 billion.
Pledged to donated 95% of his Net Worth to Charity.
His home in Wellington, Florida cost $13.5 million, 4 bathrooms, and 4 bedrooms, 3 acres of horse tracks and a horse arena to hold shows.
While at Harvard he read an article from the magazine Popular Electronics about Altair mini computer which convinced him to drop out and co-found Microsoft corporation.
In 1997 he was arrested for driving without a license and not stopping at a stop sign.
His 66,000 square foot mansion has a lake front view, has seven bedrooms, 24 bathrooms including 10 full bathrooms, cost $63 million and seven years to build.
His horse ranch in Rancho Paseana San Diego cost $18 million, is 228 acres property has a racetrack, hundreds of horse stalls and two guest homes.
Is rumored to own the island Grand Boyue Caye, Belize.
Named his mansion Xanadu, which is inspired from the film, Citizen Kane (1941).
Personal Quotes (14)
Microsoft was founded with a vision of a computer on every desk, and in every home. We've never wavered from that vision.
In terms of doing things I take a fairly scientific approach to why things happen and how they happen. I don't know if there's a god or not, but I think religious principles are quite valid.
Just in terms of allocation of time resources, religion is not very efficient. There's a lot more I could be doing on a Sunday morning.
It's fine to celebrate success, but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.
If you can't make it good, at least make it look good.
I am a strong proponent of measuring teachers' effectiveness, and my foundation works with many schools to help make sure that such evaluations improve the overall quality of teaching. But publicly ranking teachers by name will not help them get better at their jobs or improve student learning. On the contrary, it will make it a lot harder to implement teacher evaluation systems that work.
At Microsoft, we created a rigorous personnel system, but we would never have thought about using employee evaluations to embarrass people, much less publish them in a newspaper. A good personnel system encourages employees and managers to work together to set clear, achievable goals. Annual reviews are a diagnostic tool to help employees reflect on their performance, get honest feedback and create a plan for improvement. Many other businesses and public sector employers embrace this approach, and that's where the focus should be in education: school leaders and teachers working together to get better.
Developing a systematic way to help teachers get better is the most powerful idea in education today. The surest way to weaken it is to twist it into a capricious exercise in public shaming. Let's focus on creating a personnel system that truly helps teachers improve.
Members of the Harvard Family: Here in the Yard is one of the great collections of intellectual talent in the world. What for purpose? There is no question that the faculty, the alumni, the students, and the benefactors of Harvard have used their power to improve the lives of people here and around the world. But can we do more? Can Harvard dedicate its intellect to improving the lives of people who will never even hear its name? Let me make a request of the deans and the professors-the intellectual leaders here at Harvard: As you hire new faculty, award tenure, review curriculum, and determine degree requirements, please ask yourselves: Should our best minds be dedicated to solving our biggest problems? Should Harvard encourage its faculty to take on the world's worst inequities? Should Harvard students learn about the depth of global poverty... the prevalence of world hunger... the scarcity of clean water ...the girls kept out of school... the children who die from diseases we can cure? Should the world's most privileged people learn about the lives of the world's least privileged?
if we can stretch the reach of market forces so that more people can make a profit, or at least make a living, serving people who are suffering from the worst inequities. We also can press governments around the world to spend taxpayer money in ways that better reflect the values of the people who pay the taxes. If we can find approaches that meet the needs of the poor in ways that generate profits for business and votes for politicians, we will have found a sustainable way to reduce inequity in the world.
Humanity's greatest advances are not in its discoveries-but in how those discoveries are applied to reduce inequity. Whether through democracy, strong public education, quality health care, or broad economic opportunity-reducing inequity is the highest human achievement
I am an optimist. But I am an impatient optimist. The world is getting better, but it's not getting better fast enough, and it's not getting better for everyone
So we began our work in the same way anyone here would begin it. We asked: "How could the world let these children die?" The answer is simple, and harsh. The market did not reward saving the lives of these children, and governments did not subsidize it. So the children died because their mothers and their fathers had no power in the market and no voice in the system.
But you and I have both. We can make market forces work better
[about reading] The biggest problem I have is that I refuse to stop reading a book in the middle, even if I don't like it. And the more I dislike a book, the more time I take to write margin notes. That means I sometimes spend more time reading a book that I can't stand than a book that I love.
Jump to: Overview (4) | Mini Bio (1) | Spouse (1) | Trivia (37) | Personal Quotes (14)
Born-October 28, 1955 in Seattle, Washington, USA
Birth Name-William Henry Gates III
Nickname-Tre
Height-5' 9½" (1.77 m)
Residence-Medina, Washington, US
Alma mater-Harvard University
Years active-1975–present
Net worth-US$89.2 billion (October 2017)[1]
Title -Technology Advisor of Microsoft
Co-Chairman of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,CEO of Cascade Investment,Chairman of Branded Entertainment Network,Chairman of TerraPower,Board member of Microsoft Berkshire Hathaway
Spouse(s)-Melinda Gates (m. 1994)
Children-3
Mini Bio (1)
Born William Henry III is an American entrepreneur, business mogul, investor, philanthropist, and widely known as one of the most richest and influential people in the world. William Henry III was born to attorney, William Henry II and teacher, Mary Maxwell Gates in Seattle, Washington, USA.
In 1969, Apollo 11 took men to the moon, this involved huge computers, and which cost billions of research dollars to function and operate. A computer during that era, was very genuine to have. However, Lakeside had gotten a deal with the city of Seattle and received, this became Bill Gates first encounter toward a computer.
Bill Gates met Steve Ballmer whom would soon join Gates in his venture to start his own company, Microsoft. This all started when Paul Allen, Bill's former school mate moved to Boston from Seattle for a job. Paul Allen picked up a magazine at Harvard Square which read, "World's First Minicomputer Kit To Rival Commercial Models" to Bill Gates and Paul Allen this was the moment they had been waiting for, the dawn of personal computer had begun. Ed Roberts who ran this phenomenal product was looking for someone to do further programming to it.
Bill Gates and Allen Paul soon took on this task and this partnership with Ed Roberts eventually led to the first product made by Microsoft the Altair BASIC. "Microsoft" was created in 1976 Altair BASIC was an programming language which ran on the MITS Altair 8800. Gates due to the success of Altair BASIC decided to drop out of Harvard and never returned to complete his studies. Microsoft was located in Albuquerque from 1976 to 1979. In 1979 they relocated their location to Bellevue Washington on January,1,1979.
Microsoft began to expand and specialize in languages such as Basic,Cobol,Fortan,and Pascal. With this expansion and Microsoft having hit the one million dollar profit margin mark, it was a matter of time until a big-shot computer creative company came knocking at their door. That company was IBM.
The partnership IBM and Microsoft developed was a pivotal role which defined technology, to what it has become today. It established what Gates had predicted, every home in America would have one computer per household. IBM wanted an operating system for their new line of personal computers. Bill Gates bought an operating system in which he renamed, MS-DOS for IBM. He received profit from IBM for every MS-DOS product made, as IBM didn't own the licensing fee, and Gates refused to give it to them.
The partnership with Bill Gates and Paul Allen soon ended, due to Paul being diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease. Their partnership would be seen as one which defined the technology field world-wide. This made Gates the sole-man in the Microsoft empire. In 1985, Microsoft had generated 140 million dollars in sales in just that year alone.
In 1986, Bill Gates introduced Microsoft Windows it would be come one of the most used operating systems in history, and one of the most advanced. Apple around this time, came up with an ingenious software, Gates advised them to have a copyright, however Apple was more focused on selling computers, this prompted Gates to take advantage of an open opportunity. At the age of 31, Gates became a billionaire owning 45% of his stock.
Bill Gates always had insecurities, even if he at such a peak. IBM soon to separate from MS-DOS with the success of their sales, decided to create their own operating system which it licensed from Microsoft called Dos2. OS2 eventually failed as Gates decided to invest his name and the entire future of Microsoft to advancing the Windows operating system, even if it meant losing IBM as a client. He came out with Windows 3.0 which turned out be a best market seller. Microsoft was soon becoming a monopoly, and Gates started receiving the reputation of being ruthless,and unfair.
Gates was accused for practicing unfair marketing practices, and a case with the Department Of Justice Division Anti Trust Department was opened. Microsoft would receive royalty fee because of a "per-processor" license Microsoft had which stated, for each computer a microprocessor is sold; a royalty payment must be made. Regardless, if it was a Microsoft operating system or not. Operating Equipment Manufacturers saw this as unfair, this would lead him further to be a monopoly, which no software company liked. Apple had no way of competing, IBM had no way of competing, it was Microsoft receiving these royalty fees even for a non-Microsoft Operating System which most manufactures thought was most unfair. Microsoft agreed to stop charging the fees and the Department Of Justice dropped the case.
Bill Gates's mother died shortly after their marriage of breast cancer. Bill Gates because of the influence his mother had on him, created philanthropic organizations that fought certain causes, and was pursuing the interests his mother had. In 1995, Windows 95 was introduced, Bill Gates at this time slowed down on his work with Microsoft as he became a family man, welcoming his first daughter he had with his wife, Melinda French. Netscape came out with a browser which allowed you to access the world of internet. This was a realm, Microsoft had yet to embark.
Netscape sales soared through the roof, while Microsoft was behind. Microsoft then promptly released the web-browser Explorer. With the success of Explorer Gates had yet to know he would be receiving a nation-wide law-suit which would cost Microsoft millions. Gates was charged with practicing unlawful conduct, and running a illegal monopoly in 1998. An anti-trust suit along with president Bill Clinton's Justice Department filed a anti-trust suit which would be seen as the most severe lawsuit's related to the technology field. Bill Gates to save his company stepped down from Microsoft as the CEO and allowed Steve Balmer to be CEO. Bill Gates was the Chairman.
Bill Gates changed the way the world operates,functions, Gates made life easier for humans to live in. To get tasks done within seconds at a time, creating several multitasking software programs. Bill Gates will forever be remembered as a business man, philanthropist, and investor. Bill Gates with multiple products unleashed with his company Microsoft, allowed the technology field to expand and become more competitive,always setting the stakes much higher, and presented a field with endless surprises.
Enjoys playing golf and bridge.
As of 2005, his personal fortune was in excess of $46 billion.
His company, Microsoft, went public on 28 October 1985, his 30th birthday.
Dropped out of Harvard University in 1975 to devote himself full-time to Microsoft.
Has endowed a foundation that has given several billion dollars to various charitable and educational projects.
Is an avid reader.
His personal wealth exceeds the Gross National Product (GNP) of some Third World countries.
Became a billionaire (US dollars) at age 31, making him the youngest self-made billionaire in history.
Derided by critics as "Chairman Bill" after Chinese Communist leader Zedong Mao, who was popularly known as "Chairman Mao." In a March 2002 poll of over 1,600 teenagers in Hong Kong and mainland China by researchers at the City University of Hong Kong, Gates outranked Mao as the person they idolized the most.Children: Jennifer Katharine (26 April 1996), son Rory John (23 May 1999), Phoebe Adele (14 September 2002)
Has a measured IQ of 160, signifying genius intelligence.
Has been the richest man in the world consistently every year since 1998 except for 2010 and 2011, when he was surpassed by Carlos Slim Helu. Bill was again ranked the richest man for 2012.
Made an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) by Queen Elizabeth II on March 2, 2005. Because he is not a British citizen, he may not use the title Sir, but is allowed to put KBE after his name.
As of March 2006, the 12th year in a row as #1 on Forbes' list of The World's Richest People, with a net worth exceeding $50 billion (US).
His dad was friends with Wilbert Saunders, (1908-2006), who founded World Concern with Jim McCoy. At first, the company started as a small business called Medicinces for Missions, then was renamed World Concern in 1973. Gates attended Wilbert Saunders' funeral.
Mentioned in the song "High School Never Ends by Bowling for Soup, as "captain of the chess team".
Forbes magazine estimated Microsoft chief's net worth at $53 billion, making him the world's richest American. Friend Warren Buffett came in second place with a net worth fortune estimated at $47 billion. [February 2010]
He and his wife, Melinda Gates, were both awarded the 2010 J. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding.
He has two sisters, one older and one younger.
He is now Chairman and Chief Software Architect.
Bill and Melinda were married in Lanai (Hawaii) where the 100+ guests included Warren Buffett, Katherine Graham, Paul G. Allen and Craig McCaw. Singer-songwriter Willie Nelson entertained the guests at the wedding reception.
Shares birth date with Digby Jones, Indra Nooyi, and Gary Lavergne.
Purchased a Bombardier BD-700 private jet for $40 million.
As of 9/28/2015 and given his current estimated net worth of $79,200,000,000, Bill has made an average of ~$41.80 every second of his life.
Owns a Porsche 911 Carrera valued at $149,720.00.
Owns a 1988 Porsche 959 Coupe, only 337 cars of this type were ever made in the world.
Purchased the Codex Leicester written by Leonardo da Vinci for $30.8 million, which documents various scientific findings and writings that he conducted and discovered over the course of his lifetime.
Purchased the Lost on the Grand Banks oil painting and was bought in 1998 for a record US $36 million.
His net worth as of November 2016 is 81.1 billion.
Pledged to donated 95% of his Net Worth to Charity.
His home in Wellington, Florida cost $13.5 million, 4 bathrooms, and 4 bedrooms, 3 acres of horse tracks and a horse arena to hold shows.
While at Harvard he read an article from the magazine Popular Electronics about Altair mini computer which convinced him to drop out and co-found Microsoft corporation.
In 1997 he was arrested for driving without a license and not stopping at a stop sign.
His 66,000 square foot mansion has a lake front view, has seven bedrooms, 24 bathrooms including 10 full bathrooms, cost $63 million and seven years to build.
His horse ranch in Rancho Paseana San Diego cost $18 million, is 228 acres property has a racetrack, hundreds of horse stalls and two guest homes.
Is rumored to own the island Grand Boyue Caye, Belize.
Named his mansion Xanadu, which is inspired from the film, Citizen Kane (1941).
Personal Quotes (14)
Microsoft was founded with a vision of a computer on every desk, and in every home. We've never wavered from that vision.
In terms of doing things I take a fairly scientific approach to why things happen and how they happen. I don't know if there's a god or not, but I think religious principles are quite valid.
Just in terms of allocation of time resources, religion is not very efficient. There's a lot more I could be doing on a Sunday morning.
It's fine to celebrate success, but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.
If you can't make it good, at least make it look good.
I am a strong proponent of measuring teachers' effectiveness, and my foundation works with many schools to help make sure that such evaluations improve the overall quality of teaching. But publicly ranking teachers by name will not help them get better at their jobs or improve student learning. On the contrary, it will make it a lot harder to implement teacher evaluation systems that work.
At Microsoft, we created a rigorous personnel system, but we would never have thought about using employee evaluations to embarrass people, much less publish them in a newspaper. A good personnel system encourages employees and managers to work together to set clear, achievable goals. Annual reviews are a diagnostic tool to help employees reflect on their performance, get honest feedback and create a plan for improvement. Many other businesses and public sector employers embrace this approach, and that's where the focus should be in education: school leaders and teachers working together to get better.
Developing a systematic way to help teachers get better is the most powerful idea in education today. The surest way to weaken it is to twist it into a capricious exercise in public shaming. Let's focus on creating a personnel system that truly helps teachers improve.
Members of the Harvard Family: Here in the Yard is one of the great collections of intellectual talent in the world. What for purpose? There is no question that the faculty, the alumni, the students, and the benefactors of Harvard have used their power to improve the lives of people here and around the world. But can we do more? Can Harvard dedicate its intellect to improving the lives of people who will never even hear its name? Let me make a request of the deans and the professors-the intellectual leaders here at Harvard: As you hire new faculty, award tenure, review curriculum, and determine degree requirements, please ask yourselves: Should our best minds be dedicated to solving our biggest problems? Should Harvard encourage its faculty to take on the world's worst inequities? Should Harvard students learn about the depth of global poverty... the prevalence of world hunger... the scarcity of clean water ...the girls kept out of school... the children who die from diseases we can cure? Should the world's most privileged people learn about the lives of the world's least privileged?
if we can stretch the reach of market forces so that more people can make a profit, or at least make a living, serving people who are suffering from the worst inequities. We also can press governments around the world to spend taxpayer money in ways that better reflect the values of the people who pay the taxes. If we can find approaches that meet the needs of the poor in ways that generate profits for business and votes for politicians, we will have found a sustainable way to reduce inequity in the world.
Humanity's greatest advances are not in its discoveries-but in how those discoveries are applied to reduce inequity. Whether through democracy, strong public education, quality health care, or broad economic opportunity-reducing inequity is the highest human achievement
I am an optimist. But I am an impatient optimist. The world is getting better, but it's not getting better fast enough, and it's not getting better for everyone
So we began our work in the same way anyone here would begin it. We asked: "How could the world let these children die?" The answer is simple, and harsh. The market did not reward saving the lives of these children, and governments did not subsidize it. So the children died because their mothers and their fathers had no power in the market and no voice in the system.
But you and I have both. We can make market forces work better
[about reading] The biggest problem I have is that I refuse to stop reading a book in the middle, even if I don't like it. And the more I dislike a book, the more time I take to write margin notes. That means I sometimes spend more time reading a book that I can't stand than a book that I love.
