John Makepeace Bennett

John Makepeace Bennett (31 July 1921 – 9 December 2010) was an early Australian computer scientist. He was Australia's first professor of computer science and the founding president of the Australian Computer Society.

In 1952 he married Rosalind Mary Elkington (who was also working at Ferranti). They had four children: Christopher John, Ann Margaret, Susan Elizabeth and Jane Mary. This was the world's first practical stored program electronic computer, and the world's first computer in regular operation from 1949. He used EDSAC to carry out the first ever structural engineering calculations on a computer as part of his PhD.

He worked for Ferranti in Manchester and London as a computer specialist. Here he designed the instruction set for Ferranti Mark 1*, which was the main improvement of that machine over Ferranti Mark 1.

In 1956, Bennett returned to Australia to become numerical analyst (and later senior numerical analyst) to the Adolph Basser Laboratory at the University of Sydney. His main work was the development of software for SILLIAC.

Until 1958 he taught associated courses in the use of computers. In 1958 he established a postgraduate diploma in numerical analysis and computing which was later changed to the postgraduate diploma in computer science.

In 2001 he was awarded the Centenary Medal for service to Australian society in computer science and technology.

In 2004 Bennett was awarded the Pearcey Medal, an annual award presented to a distinguished Australian for a lifetime and outstanding contribution to the ICT industry.