Wesley A. Clark
Engineer who designed the LINC, an early personal computer
- Lived
- 88 yrs
- 1927 – 2016
- Works listed
- 1
- Computer
- Honours
- 1
- Most recent 1981
- Profile views
- 2
- 0 followers
Wesley Clark was an American physicist and computer engineer who designed the LINC in 1962, often called the first personal computer because a single scientist could use it in a lab. He also co-designed MIT’s TX-0 and TX-2 and suggested the small interface computers used to build the ARPANET. He died in 2016.
Biography
Lincoln Laboratory
Clark studied physics at UC Berkeley and joined MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory in 1952, working on Whirlwind and co-designing the transistorised TX-0 and TX-2 computers.
The LINC
In 1962 he and Charles Molnar designed the LINC (Laboratory Instrument Computer), a small interactive machine for biomedical researchers, with a screen and tape storage. About 50 were built, and it influenced DEC’s PDP-8.
ARPANET
At a 1967 meeting he proposed using small dedicated computers, later called Interface Message Processors, to connect host computers to the ARPANET.
Later
He taught at Washington University in St. Louis and ran a consulting firm. He died in 2016.
Timeline
-
1927
Born in New Haven, Connecticut, United States
-
1952
Joins MIT Lincoln Laboratory
-
1956
TX-0
-
1958
TX-2
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1962
LINC
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1967
Proposes IMPs
-
2016
Dies
-
2016
Died, aged 88
Notable works
-
1962
LINC Computer
With Charles Molnar.
Awards and honours
-
Eckert–Mauchly Award
1981
Did you know?
-
1
Ivan Sutherland’s Sketchpad ran on his TX-2.
-
2
Scientists assembled their own LINCs from kits.
-
3
He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering.
Connections
Related people
Frequently asked
Who is Wesley A. Clark?
Wesley Clark was an American physicist and computer engineer who designed the LINC in 1962, often called the first personal computer because a single scientist could use it in a lab. He also co-designed MIT’s TX-0 and TX-2 and suggested the small interface computers used to build the ARPANET. He died in 2016.
When did Wesley A. Clark die?
Wesley A. Clark died on 22 February 2016 at the age of 88.
Where is Wesley A. Clark from?
Wesley A. Clark was born in New Haven, Connecticut, United States.
What is Wesley A. Clark known for?
Wesley A. Clark is best known for TX-0 and TX-2 at MIT Lincoln Laboratory; the LINC (1962); the ARPANET IMP idea.
What awards has Wesley A. Clark received?
Notable honours include Eckert–Mauchly Award (1981).
References
- Wesley A. Clark — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
- Wesley A. Clark — Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
- Wesley A. Clark (Q252554) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
Includes material from the Wikipedia article “Wesley A. Clark”, 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
“Wesley A. Clark.” TrackFame, last updated 5 November 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/wesley-clark
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