James Martin, British tech guru and author, found dead in Bermuda

James Martin, a British philanthropist and tech guru who was once the highest-selling author on books about computing, has died near his private island in Bermuda. He was 79.

Authorities in the British territory said Thursday that an autopsy is pending for Martin, whose body was found by a kayaker in waters near his home on Agar’s Island.

Police have said they do not believe a crime is involved.

Martin was a Pulitzer Prize nominee for a 1977 technology book, “The Wired Society,” which Oxford University said contained descriptions about the use of computers and the Internet that was still timely a quarter of a century later.

The university also noted that Martin was ranked fourth in Computer World’s 25th Anniversary Edition’s most influential people in computer technology.

Martin was the largest single private donor in the nearly 900-year history of the University of Oxford, donating more than $150 million to help establish the Oxford Martin School.

“You rarely meet someone who’s such an incredible philanthropist whose sole interest is doing good at the highest level,” said Dr. Anthony Knap, director of the Geochemical and Environmental Research Group at Texas A&M University.

“I think it’s a tragic loss. He was an innovative man who could have continued doing good.”