Origins & Early Life

John Thomas Draper (also known as Captain Crunch, Crunch, or Crunchman; born March 11, 1943) is an American computer programmer and former phone phreak. He is a widely known figure within the hacker and computer security community. He is primarily known as a colorful and unconventional figure in Silicon Valley history and lore. He befriended and influenced Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs in the years before they founded Apple Computer.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

His determined probing and exploration of the telephone network earned him a reputation for his technical acumen. However, his activities sometimes crossed legal lines, leading to criminal charges and prison time for toll fraud. In the 1970s and 1980s, he worked as a software engineer for Apple and Autodesk and briefly ran his own software company, producing the EasyWriter word processor. He later worked on computer security and media-delivery technologies, serving as chief technical officer of ShopIP from 1999 to 2004 and becoming chief technical officer of En2go in 2007. Draper is the son of a United States Air Force engineer.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

As a child, he built a home radio station from discarded military components. He was frequently bullied in school...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alvy Ray Smith — Contemporary (Born in 1943) (1943): Pioneering computer scientist and co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios.
• Andreas Baader — Contemporary (Born in 1943) (1943): West German communist and leader of the far-left terrorist organization Red Army Faction (RAF).
• Antonio Inoki — Contemporary (Born in 1943) (1943): Pioneering Japanese wrestler, martial artist, and political figure.
• 1982 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament — Shared historical date (03-11 · Born) (1982): The 44th annual NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.
• Alexander Fleming — Shared historical date (03-11 · Died) (1955): Pioneering microbiologist known for the discovery of penicillin, revolutionizing medicine.
• Arthur Ashe — Historical peer (Born in 1943) (1943): Pioneering American tennis star, celebrated for his skill and activism.
• Arthur B. McDonald — Historical peer (Born in 1943) (1943): Pioneering Canadian astrophysicist, recognized for neutrino research and the 2015 Nobel Prize.
• Akio Morita — Historical peer (Died in 1999) (1999): Visionary Japanese entrepreneur and co-founder of Sony.
• Ali Sayad Shirazi — Historical peer (Died in 1999) (1999): Key Iranian military commander during the Iran–Iraq War, assassinated in 1999.
• A. A. K. Niazi — Historical peer (Died in 2004) (2004): Pakistani general who commanded Eastern Command during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
• 1943 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1943
• March 11 (03-11) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on March 11