Clive Sinclair

Clive Sinclair

Sir Clive Marles Sinclair (born July 30, 1940) was a well-known British entrepreneur and inventor of the world's first 'slim-line' electronic pocket calculator in 1972 (Sinclair Executive) and the ZX80, ZX81 and ZX Spectrum computers in the late 1970s and early 1980s, amongst many other things. The ZX80 was the UK's first mass market home computer to be sold for under £100. Sinclair has been fascinated by electronics and miniaturization since his teenage years. In 1961 he founded Sinclair Radionics Ltd after spending several years as assistant editor for Practical Wireless and Instrument Practice to raise funds.

In later years Sinclair became a keen poker player. He appeared in the first three seasons of the Late Night Poker television series. He won the first season final of the Celebrity Poker Club spin-off, defeating Keith Allen. His most recent invention was the A-bike, a folding bicycle aimed towards commuters that weighs 5.5 kg (12 lbs) and folds to a very small size for easier carrying on public transport.


Magazine Articles Mentioning Clive Sinclair :


Historical Timeline for Clive Sinclair :

Date Event
25 Jul 1961 Clive Sinclair founds Sinclair Radionics
Aug 1972 Clive Sinclair introduces the first pocket calculator
5 Jul 1977 Clive Sinclair founded Science of Cambridge Ltd.
Feb 1978 Science of Cambridge releases the MK14
Apr 1980 News Article : Sinclair pocket micro début
Nov 1980 News Article : Sinclair reveals plans for ZX-80 expansion
Dec 1980 News Article : ZX-80 ROM withdrawn
5 Mar 1981 Sinclair launches the ZX81
Jun 1981 News Article : BBC's choice of Proton sparks rivals' criticism
23 Apr 1982 Sinclair launches the ZX Spectrum
16 Jun 1982 News Article : Clive Sinclair is awarded a knighthood
4 Jul 1985 News Article : "Sir Clive Ltd" to head R&D - role of Sir Clive Sinclair clarified in future of Sinclair Research
18 Jul 1985 News Article : Writ against Sir Clive Sinclair from Hoover
7 Nov 1985 News Article : Clive booked!
7 Apr 1986 Amstrad Buys Sinclair Research IP
16 Sep 2021 Sir Clive Sinclair dies aged 81

 

 

 

 
Photograph of Clive Sinclair Click for a larger version






Publication articles relating to Clive Sinclair :

Item Publication Date
Clive Sets the Pace [News Item]
Uncle Clive will be donning his sweaty tracksuit to set the pace in a half-marathon to be held in July.
ZX Computing Summer 1982 May 1982
Timex Buys it Up [News Item]
Sinclair Research have signed a deal with Timex in America to get the ZX81 sold through some 171,000 retail outlets in the states.
ZX Computing Summer 1982 May 1982
Clive Sinclair is awarded a knighthood [News Item]
Arise, Sir Micro-chip! - Clive Marles Sinclair has been awarded a knighthood in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.
Popular Computing Weekly Vol 2 No 24 - 16-22 June 1983 16th June 1982
"Sir Clive Ltd" to head R&D - role of Sir Clive Sinclair clarified in future of Sinclair Research [News Item]
Some of the confusion surrounding the announcement fo Robert Maxwell's proposed takeover of Sinclair Research is beginning to clear.
Popular Computing Weekly Vol 4 No 27 - 4-10 July 1985 4th July 1985
Writ against Sir Clive Sinclair from Hoover [News Item]
Sir Clive Sinclair's problems deepened at the weekend with news that Hoover - the company which manufacturers the C5 electric vehicle - has taken out a writ against him for non-payment of £1.5m in outstanding debts, incurred by his Sinclair Vehicles project between November 1984 and June 1985.
Popular Computing Weekly Vol 4 No 29 - 18-24 July 1985 18th July 1985
Interview with Sir Clive Sinclair [Interview] Personal Computer World - October 1990 October 1990

Help support the museum by buying from the museum shop

View all items

Founding Sponsors
redgate Google ARM Real VNC Microsoft Research
Heritage Lottery Funded
Heritage Lottery Fund
Accredited Museum