Introduction

It is very true that the world's media and Internet users are beginning to label specific individuals as the 'father of the internet'. Indeed, whilst researching this assignment, there were no less than 4,000 matches on a web search engine for the phrase "father of the internet", and suggestions ranging from Marconi (inventor of the telephone) to Al Gore (Presidential Candidate in the U.S.A.). But what do these people mean when using the term 'father of the Internet', are they talking about an inventor, a guardian or even promoter. The Oxford Dictionary of Current English, defines the word 'father' to be:

Forefather; founder or originator; early leader;

Through detailing the historical development of the Internet in the following sections, I hope to ascertain which people have a claim to be the 'father of the internet.'