Cracking Codes and Breaking Norms: Why Alan Turing Is My Favorite Historical Badass

Who is your favorite historical figure?

If I had to pick one historical figure who stands out above the rest—one guy I’d want to grab a beer with and just soak up some brilliance—it’s Alan Turing. Hands down.

Turing was a damn genius. This dude cracked the freaking Enigma code during World War II. You know, the Nazi encryption machine that was supposed to be unbreakable? Yeah, Turing looked at that thing like it was a crossword puzzle and said, “Hold my tea.” He built a machine that basically laid the groundwork for modern computers—while casually helping win a war. No big deal.

But what really gets me is how far ahead of his time he was. This was a guy who imagined a machine that could think. Think about that—this was before the word “computer” even meant anything to most people. Meanwhile, I’m over here struggling to program my DVR.

And on top of being a pioneer in computing and saving millions of lives, the guy was also persecuted for being gay. The very country he helped save chemically castrated him instead of thanking him properly. That’s the part that hits hard. They treated a hero like a criminal because he didn’t fit their narrow idea of normal. It’s tragic and disgusting.

So yeah, Alan Turing is my favorite historical figure. Not just because of his brain, but because he stood tall (quietly and humbly) in a world that didn’t deserve him. He was brilliant, brave, and broken by a society that couldn’t keep up with his mind or accept his identity. And yet, his legacy? Still shaping the world today.

Alan, if you’re out there in the cosmic data stream somewhere—cheers, man. You were a real one.