John Marshall

John A. Marshall ran Lynx Electronics, a British component supplier serving engineers and electronics enthusiasts. Recognising the growing interest in microprocessors, he set out to create an affordable computer kit that customers could build, study and expand.

In 1977 Marshall commissioned consultant Chris Shelton to design the Nascom 1. Marshall shaped the commercial project, sourced components and introduced the machine to the rapidly forming British personal-computer market.

The Nascom 1 and later Nascom 2 became influential enthusiast and educational systems. Their success made Marshall an important early organiser of Britain's microcomputer industry even though the company later struggled with the financial demands of rapid growth.