The History of Linux

In 1991,
Linus Torvalds, a student at
the University o Helsinki Finland, started a project to implement
UNIX
in chip 386. He desired to create an operating system that can be used as free software (no license needed). Linus developed his project. He then put his project on the internet and invited other programmers all over the world to give him suggestions and criticisms on it. He received fantastic responses. Linus's project become masterpiece because many programmers helped him perfecting him. Later on the project was launched by the name Linux, which means Linus's UNIX.

see also What is Linux and The distribution of Linux