Herbert Yardley

Herbert Osborn Yardley was an American cryptologist. He founded and led the cryptographic organization the Black Chamber. Under Yardley, the cryptanalysts of The American Black Chamber broke Japanese diplomatic codes and were able to furnish American negotiators with significant information during the Washington Naval Conference of 1921–1922. Recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal. He wrote The American Black Chamber (1931) about his experiences there. He later helped the Nationalists in China (1938–1940) to break Japanese codes. Following his work in China, Yardley worked briefly for the Canadian government, helping it set up a cryptological section of the National Research Council of Canada from June to December 1941. Yardley was reportedly let go due to pressure either from the Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson or from the British.

13 April 1889

Born on the same birth day (13 April): Alan Jones (radio broadcaster) • Dadasaheb Torne • Dan Campbell • Darrun Hilliard • Hunter Pence • Isaac Low • J. M. G. Le Clézio • Jean-Louis Lévesque • John Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of Marlborough • Jon Stone • Josh Reynolds (rugby league) • Juhan Kukk • Len Cook • Louis Philippe II, Duke of Orléans • Madalyn Murray O'Hair • Peter Davison • Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy • Ray Lyman Wilbur • Roger de Rabutin, comte de Bussy • Seamus Heaney • Theodore L. Thomas • Thomas Lawrence

Born in the same month (April 1889): A. Philip Randolph • Adolf Hitler • Albert Jean Amateau • Charlie Chaplin • Jessie Street • Ludwig Wittgenstein • Makhanlal Chaturvedi • Tonny Kessler • Vicente Ferreira Pastinha