Prescott Currier
Prescott Currier | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 4, 1912 United States |
| Died | January 12, 1995 (aged 82) United States |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1929–1962 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Legion of Merit (2) |
Prescott Hunt Currier (June 4, 1912 – January 12, 1995) was an American naval officer and cryptanalyst who contributed to U.S. and British cryptographic cooperation during World War II and later gained recognition for his work on the Voynich manuscript. In 1941, Currier was part of a U.S. cryptologic delegation that visited Bletchley Park, where he contributed to early Anglo-American codebreaking efforts. He was awarded the Legion of Merit in World War II and the Korean War. He also analyzed the Voynich manuscript in the 1970s, proposing significant structural insights that have influenced subsequent research into the manuscript's origins.
Biography
Early years
He was born in Holbrook, Massachusetts on June 4, 1912.[1] He attended the Naval Academy Preparatory Class for a year, but was not admitted to the Naval Academy due to being underweight.[2]
In 1932, Currier enlisted in the Navy after his year at the naval preparatory class. He trained at the Radio School, and became one of the first intercept operators. He then served in Olongopo in the Philippines, where he met the Fleet Intelligence Officer, Lieutenant Wenger.[2] After completing his enlisted service obligation, he returned to the States and began his university studies at Dartmouth University. Soon after, he got a call from Wenger, inviting him to Washington, DC to work for the Navy doing cryptanalysis. He accepted, and soon received his commission.[2]
He was commissioned as an officer into the US Navy Reserves in 1935. In 1940, He went on active duty with the 1st Liasion Group to UK for cryptography.[2]
World War II
In January 1941, Currier and Lieutenant Robert B. Weeks and Army representative Abraham Sinkov and Leo Rosen delivered American-built cryptographic devices to England. This included two copies of the PURPLE machine. In reciprocity, they were supplied by the British with some information about the German ENIGMA system, and were provided with modern direction finding equipment.[1] In 1941, he was one of four Americans who made a secret visit to Bletchley Park, where the British were working on decrypting the Enigma.[3] He played a major role in the cryptanalysis of the Enigma.[citation needed]
During World War II, he served in the Philippines and Japan in the Navy's Division of Naval Communications.[1][4] He was awarded the Legion of Merit for his service from 7 December 1941 to 2 September 1945.[4]
Between 1948 and 1950, he was Director of Investigations in the "Naval Security Group" (NAVSECGRU).
He was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit for his service during the Korean War in the Office of Operations, Armed Forces Security Agency, from 15 July 1950 to 1 November 1951.[4]
He retired from the Navy with the rank of Captain.[2]
Voynich manuscript
In the 1970s, Currier made several attempts to decipher the Voynich manuscript, but he was largely unsuccessful.[5] However, his work was seen to provide a significant advancement in the research.[5][6]
Death and legacy
Currier died on January 12, 1995, at his home in Damariscotta, Maine.[1]
For his significant contributions to cryptography, the Central Security Service of the National Security Agency has referred to Currier as a "giant" in Cryptography.[7]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Remembering CAPT Prescott H. Currier, USN, Cryptologist". June 4, 2019. Archived from the original on January 19, 2025. Retrieved January 19, 2025. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Presentation Given to Members of the Cryptanalysis Field" (PDF). National Security Agency (NSA), Fort Meade, Maryland. 1974. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
- ↑ Corera, Gordon (8 February 2016). "How the British and Americans started listening in". BBC. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Prescott H. Currier". Hall of Valor. Military Times. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Captain Prescott Currier and Voynich research..." April 30, 2013.
- ↑ Morningstar, Jason B. (April 2001). Gallows Variants as Null Characters in the Voynich Manuscript (PDF) (Master of Science in Information Science thesis). University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
- ↑ "Voices from NSA's Past". National Security Agency/Central Security Service. Archived from the original on April 20, 2025. Retrieved May 11, 2025. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help)
External links
- Presentation Given to Members of the Cryptanalysis Field
- Remembering CAPT Prescott H. Currier, USN, Cryptologist Archived January 19, 2025, at the Wayback Machine
- Prescott Currier
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