Gordon Earle Moore was a prominent American businessman, engineer, and a key figure in the semiconductor industry. He co-founded Intel Corporation, a leading manufacturer of integrated circuits (ICs). Moore is widely recognized for his proposition of Moore's law, an observation stating that the number of transistors on an IC tends to double approximately every two years. This prediction has held true for several decades, driving significant advancements in computing power and shaping the evolution of the technology industry.
January 3, 1929: Birth of Gordon Moore
On January 3, 1929, Gordon Earle Moore, an American businessman, engineer, and co-founder of Intel Corporation, was born.
1929: Early Life and Family
In 1929, Gordon Moore was born as the second son to Walter Harold Moore, a county sheriff, and Florence Almira "Mira" Williamson, a homemaker.
1935: Early Education and Introverted Personality
When Gordon Moore began his education in 1935, teachers observed his introverted nature.
1938: Family's Relocation to Redwood City
In 1938, Moore's family moved to Redwood City, California, following his father's promotion to deputy sheriff.
1940: Spark of Interest in Chemistry
Gordon Moore received a chemistry set as a Christmas gift in 1940, sparking his passion for the subject and inspiring him to pursue a career as a chemist.
1942: High School Years at Sequoia High School
From 1942 to 1946, Gordon Moore attended Sequoia High School, where he actively participated in athletics.
1946: Higher Education at San José State College
Gordon Moore pursued chemistry at San José State College (now San José State University) from 1946 to 1947.
1947: Transfer to University of California, Berkeley
In 1947, Gordon Moore made a significant decision to transfer to the University of California, Berkeley, to further his studies in chemistry.
1947: Meeting Betty Whitaker
In 1947, Gordon Moore's life took a significant turn when he met his future wife, Betty Irene Whitaker, at a student government conference held at the Asilomar Conference Grounds.
1948: Learning from Renowned Professors
During his time at UC Berkeley, Gordon Moore had the privilege of learning from prominent figures in the field of chemistry, including Glenn Seaborg, Melvin Calvin, and William Giauque.
September 1950: Enrollment at California Institute of Technology
Gordon Moore enrolled at the California Institute of Technology ("Caltech") in September 1950 to pursue a Ph.D. in chemistry.
1950: Marriage to Betty Whitaker
Gordon Moore and Betty Irene Whitaker married in 1950, marking the beginning of their lifelong partnership.
1950: Graduation from UC Berkeley
In 1950, Gordon Moore successfully completed his undergraduate studies at UC Berkeley, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry.
1953: Postdoctoral Research at Johns Hopkins University
From 1953 to 1956, Gordon Moore engaged in postdoctoral research at the Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University.
1954: Completion of Ph.D. at Caltech
Gordon Moore earned his Ph.D. in chemistry from the California Institute of Technology in 1954.
1954: Birth of Kenneth Moore
Gordon and Betty Moore welcomed their first son, Kenneth Moore, in 1954.
1956: Conclusion of Postdoctoral Research
In 1956, Gordon Moore concluded his postdoctoral research at Johns Hopkins University, marking the end of his formal academic journey.
1959: Birth of Steven Moore
In 1959, Gordon and Betty Moore's family grew with the birth of their second son, Steven Moore.
April 19, 1965: Publication of Moore's Law
On April 19, 1965, Moore published an article in Electronics Magazine predicting the trend of transistor miniaturization, later known as "Moore's Law".
July 1968: Co-founding of NM Electronics (later Intel)
In July 1968, Gordon Moore, alongside Robert Noyce, established NM Electronics, a company that would later become the renowned Intel Corporation.
1975: Transition to President of Intel
In 1975, Gordon Moore assumed the role of president at Intel, marking a significant step in his leadership journey within the company.
1975: Revision of Moore's Law
In 1975, Gordon Moore revised his prediction for Moore's Law, stating that the number of transistors in an integrated circuit would double approximately every two years instead of every year.
1976: Induction into the National Academy of Engineering
In 1976, Gordon Moore was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in recognition of his contributions to semiconductor devices, spanning from transistors to microprocessors.
April 1979: Appointment as Chairman and CEO of Intel
In April 1979, Gordon Moore's role at Intel expanded as he was appointed as chairman and chief executive officer.
1983: Membership on Caltech's Board of Trustees
In 1983, Gordon Moore became a member of the California Institute of Technology's (Caltech) board of trustees.
April 1987: Transition to Chairman of Intel
Gordon Moore transitioned from his role as CEO in April 1987, becoming chairman of Intel.
1990: Award of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation
In 1990, President George H.W. Bush awarded Gordon Moore the National Medal of Technology and Innovation.
1993: Chairmanship of Caltech's Board of Trustees
Gordon Moore's influence at Caltech grew as he assumed the role of chairman of the board of trustees in 1993.
1996: Dedication of Moore Laboratories Building at Caltech
The Moore Laboratories building at Caltech, named in honor of Gordon and Betty Moore, was dedicated in 1996, signifying their substantial impact on the institution.
1997: Appointment as Chairman Emeritus of Intel
In 1997, Gordon Moore was named chairman emeritus of Intel.
1998: Induction as a Fellow of the Computer History Museum
Gordon Moore was honored as a Fellow of the Computer History Museum in 1998 for his groundbreaking early work in designing and producing semiconductor devices and his role as co-founder of Fairchild and Intel.
2000: Conclusion of Chairmanship at Caltech
After serving as chairman of Caltech's board of trustees, Gordon Moore's term concluded in 2000.
2000: Establishment of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
Gordon Moore and his wife, Betty, founded the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation in 2000 with an initial endowment of approximately $5 billion, focusing on environmental conservation, science, and support within the San Francisco Bay Area.
2001: Substantial Donation to Caltech
In 2001, Gordon Moore and his wife made a remarkable donation of $600 million to Caltech, marking the largest single gift ever received by an institution of higher education at that time.
2001: Receipt of the Othmer Gold Medal
In 2001, Gordon Moore received the Othmer Gold Medal, recognizing his outstanding contributions to the advancement of chemistry and science.
2002: Receipt of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Bower Award
Gordon Moore received two prestigious awards in 2002: the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States, from President George W. Bush, and the Bower Award for Business Leadership.
2002: Receipt of the Order of the Golden Ark
In 2002, Gordon Moore and Claude Gascon, senior vice president of Conservation International, were honored with the Order of the Golden Ark by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands. This prestigious award recognized their exceptional contributions to the field of nature conservation.
2003: Election as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
Gordon Moore was elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2003, a testament to his contributions and standing within the scientific community.
2005: Election to the American Philosophical Society
Gordon Moore received further recognition for his scholarly contributions in 2005 when he was elected to the American Philosophical Society, a prestigious learned society founded in 1743.
December 2007: Donation for the Thirty Meter Telescope
In December 2007, Gordon Moore and his wife made a significant contribution of $200 million towards the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), a project anticipated to result in the world's second-largest optical telescope.
2007: Pledge to Establish a Nursing School
In 2007, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation pledged $100 million over 11 years to establish a nursing school at the University of California, Davis.
2008: Award of the IEEE Medal of Honor
Gordon Moore was bestowed with the 2008 IEEE Medal of Honor. This prestigious accolade celebrated his pioneering technical contributions to integrated circuit processing. Furthermore, it recognized his leadership in developing MOS memory, the microprocessor computer, and his significant impact on the semiconductor industry.
2009: Receipt of the Andrew Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy
Gordon and Betty Moore's philanthropy was recognized in 2009 when they were honored with the Andrew Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy, acknowledging their significant contributions to various causes.
2009: Induction into National Inventors Hall of Fame
In 2009, Gordon Moore was honored for his significant contributions to innovation with an induction into the prestigious National Inventors Hall of Fame.
2010: Dan David Prize Award
Gordon Moore received the esteemed Dan David Prize in 2010, recognizing his groundbreaking work in the fields of Computers and Telecommunications.
2011: Appearance in the Documentary "Something Ventured"
Gordon Moore appeared in the 2011 documentary film "Something Ventured." In the film, he shared an anecdote about Intel's first business plan, humorously remarking, "It was one page, double-spaced. It had a lot of typos in it."
2011: First Human Genome Sequenced on Ion Torrent's Platform
In a groundbreaking scientific achievement in 2011, Gordon Moore's genome became the first to be sequenced using Ion Torrent's Personal Genome Machine platform, a technology reliant on ISFET biosensors, underscoring his connection to cutting-edge advancements.
2016: UCSF Medal Award
Gordon Moore was further recognized for his contributions to science and technology in 2016 when he received the UCSF medal.
2022: Benefaction to Northern California Institutions
By 2022, the Moores had donated over $190 million to Stanford University, demonstrating their ongoing support for educational institutions in Northern California.
February 2023: Reported Net Worth of Gordon Moore
As of February 2023, Gordon Moore's net worth was reported to be $7 billion.
March 24, 2023: Death of Gordon Moore
On March 24, 2023, Gordon Earle Moore, an American businessman, engineer, and co-founder of Intel Corporation, passed away.