Donald Davies
British scientist who coined “packet switching” and built an early packet network
- Lived
- 75 yrs
- 1924 – 2000
- Works listed
- 1
- Report
- Honours
- 3
- Most recent 2012
- Profile views
- 2
- 0 followers
Donald Davies was a Welsh computer scientist at Britain’s National Physical Laboratory who independently invented packet switching in 1965 and gave it its name. His NPL network was one of the first to use the technique, influencing the ARPANET and the internet.
Biography
Background
Davies grew up in Portsmouth, studied physics and mathematics at Imperial College London and worked on the atomic bomb project. He joined the National Physical Laboratory in 1947, working on Alan Turing’s ACE computer.
Packet switching
In 1965 Davies proposed breaking data into short “packets” and sending them through a store-and-forward network. He presented the idea in 1966 and 1967; it reached the ARPANET team at a 1967 symposium.
NPL network
His team built the NPL network, operational from 1970, one of the first local packet-switched networks.
Later work
Davies later worked on data security and cryptography. He was made a CBE in 1983, elected FRS in 1987 and died in 2000.
Timeline
-
1924
Born in Treorchy, Wales
-
1947
Joins the National Physical Laboratory
-
1965
Proposes packet switching
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1967
Presents at the Gatlinburg symposium
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1970
NPL network operational
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1983
CBE
-
1987
Fellow of the Royal Society
-
2000
Dies
-
2000
Died, aged 75
Notable works
-
1966
Proposal for a Digital Communication Network Report
Awards and honours
-
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
1983
-
Fellow of the Royal Society
1987
-
Internet Hall of Fame
2012
Did you know?
-
1
He chose the word “packet” because it translates easily into other languages.
-
2
He worked with Alan Turing on the ACE.
-
3
He developed his ideas independently of Paul Baran.
Connections
Frequently asked
Who is Donald Davies?
Donald Davies was a Welsh computer scientist at Britain’s National Physical Laboratory who independently invented packet switching in 1965 and gave it its name. His NPL network was one of the first to use the technique, influencing the ARPANET and the internet.
When did Donald Davies die?
Donald Davies died on 28 May 2000 at the age of 75.
Where is Donald Davies from?
Donald Davies was born in Treorchy, Wales.
What is Donald Davies known for?
Donald Davies is best known for Packet switching (1965); NPL network; computer security.
What awards has Donald Davies received?
Notable honours include Commander of the Order of the British Empire (1983), Fellow of the Royal Society (1987), Internet Hall of Fame (2012).
References
- Donald Davies — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
- Donald Davies — Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
- Donald Davies (Q1240482) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
Includes material from the Wikipedia article “Donald Davies”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. That text is available under the same licence. Learn more
External links
About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editorial team; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal under our editorial policy
- First published 4 November 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Donald Davies.” TrackFame, last updated 5 November 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/donald-davies
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