Eckert, J. Presper

Eckert, J. (John) Presper (1919–  ) computer engineer, inventor; born in Philadelphia. A University of Pennsylvania graduate in electronic engineering, he and John W. Mauchly developed the first practical electronic digital computer, the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator (ENIAC) (1942–46); it weighed several tons and used thousands of valves and resistors. In 1951 an improved version of their computer, the UNIVAC I, became one of the first commercially sold computers. Eckert had more than 85 patents for his various electronic inventions.