# Allan MacLeod Cormack

_American physicist (1924-1998)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/allan-macleod-cormack
Last updated: 2026-11-01

> Allan MacLeod Cormack was a South African and American physicist, academic, and Nobel Laureate. He was Professor of Physics at Tufts University and won the 1979 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on X-ray computed tomography (CT), a significant and unusual achievement since Cormack did not hold a doctoral degree in any scientific field.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 23 February 1924 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q223542#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Johannesburg ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q223542#P19))
- **Died:** 7 May 1998 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q223542#P570))
- **Place of death:** Winchester ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q223542#P20))
- **Citizenship:** United States; South Africa ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q223542#P27))
- **Occupation:** physicist; biophysicist; researcher; physician ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q223542#P106))
- **Education:** University of Cape Town; St John's College; Rondebosch Boys' High School ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q223542#P69))
- **Awards:** Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine; National Medal of Science; Fellow of the American Physical Society; Order of Mapungubwe in Gold ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q223542#P166))

## Questions

**When was Allan MacLeod Cormack born?**  
Allan MacLeod Cormack was born on 23 February 1924 in Johannesburg.

**Where did Allan MacLeod Cormack study?**  
Allan MacLeod Cormack was educated at University of Cape Town, St John's College, Rondebosch Boys' High School.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Allan MacLeod Cormack](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_MacLeod_Cormack) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q223542](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q223542) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: 34. Tagung 1984 Mediziner; Verabschiedung H.-H. Kunckel, Allen Cormack - W134Nr.123006 - Willy Pragher (cropped).jpg by Willy Pragher (CC BY 3.0 de)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:34._Tagung_1984_Mediziner;_Verabschiedung_H.-H._Kunckel,_Allen_Cormack_-_W134Nr.123006_-_Willy_Pragher_(cropped).jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Allan MacLeod Cormack, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: 34. Tagung 1984 Mediziner; Verabschiedung H.-H. Kunckel, Allen Cormack - W134Nr.123006 - Willy Pragher (cropped).jpg — Willy Pragher, CC BY 3.0 de.

## Cite this page

"Allan MacLeod Cormack". DigiNepal. Last updated 1 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/allan-macleod-cormack. Retrieved 5 November 2026.