Herman Hollerith, American inventor, 1900-1910.

Photograph. Herman Hollerith (1860-1929) invented a mechanised system for recording data using the punched card device introduced by J M Jacquard. Following the 1890 US census he won an award for the most effiecient data-procesing system used. In 1896 he established his own company that later merged with to other companies to become the International Busines Machines Corporation (IBM).