Donald Davies was a British computer scientist known for his pioneering work in data communication. He is best recognized for developing the concept of packet switching, a method that breaks data into smaller packets for efficient transmission over networks. This innovation laid the groundwork for modern internet communication. Born on June 7, 1924, in Wales, Davies contributed significantly to the field of computer science throughout his career. He worked at the National Physical Laboratory in the UK, where he helped establish the first operational packet-switched network, known as the NPL network, in the 1960s.