Did you know that today, May 17, is Internet Day?
Internet Day is an initiative that began in Spanish-speaking countries with the goal of improving standards of living by increasing global understanding of new technology and its possibilities. So today we’d like to celebrate two men who had pivotal roles in bringing the benefits of technology to the masses: Bill Gates and Sir Tim Berners-Lee.
Both were born in 1955, and both invented groundbreaking technology that would shape the future of communication and computing… and it turns out, they are distant cousins, too!
Bill Gates is best known for co-founding Microsoft, and for a while, he held the title of richest person in the world. He was born in Seattle, and developed a keen interest in computers and programming as a child. He wrote his first code at age 13 on a computer donated to his school, and began his college education at Harvard, but left after 2 years to found Microsoft with his best friend, Paul Allen.
Sir Tim Berners-Lee may be less of a household name, but his contribution was more fundamental: it’s thanks to him that you’re reading this blog post. Tim was born in London, and he is known as the inventor of the World Wide Web. A modest man, he chose not to patent his creation so it would be widely accessible to people all over the world, and dedicated his life to the continued development of accessible communication technology.
Bill and Tim are both descended from Stephen Gates and Anne Neave, a couple from Suffolk, England who were married in the early 17th century. Bill is a direct descendant of their son Thomas Gates, while Tim is a direct descendant of their daughter, Mary Maynard.
Click here to learn more about how they are related!
Want to find out what other celebrities share a surprising family connection? Visit MyHeritage Celebs to discover more.
