CTRL + ALT + DELETE, a well-known keyboard shortcut, was created in 1981 by David Bradley, a member of IBM’s team working on the company’s new personal computer project in Boca Raton, Florida. Bradley developed the shortcut to quickly reset the system without going through time-consuming memory tests, a feature intended for internal use by IBM’s programmers. The combination gained widespread use with the rise of Microsoft’s Windows in the 1990s, becoming a crucial tool for addressing system crashes and the “blue screen of death.” While Bradley created it, he credits Bill Gates for making it famous.
  

Key Points: 

1. Creation by David Bradley: While working on IBM’s personal computer project, Bradley created the CTRL + ALT + DELETE shortcut to efficiently reset the system during development without undergoing memory tests.
2. Original Purpose for Coders: The shortcut was initially intended as an internal tool for IBM programmers to save time during the frequent system reboots required by coding glitches.
3. Widespread Usage with Windows: It wasn’t until Microsoft’s Windows operating system became popular that CTRL + ALT + DELETE gained prominence among the general public, especially as a quick fix for system crashes.
4. Recognition and Popularity: Despite its practical origins, the shortcut became iconic, leading Bradley to be recognized in the tech community, even to the point of being asked for autographs.
5. Contribution to Computing: The CTRL + ALT + DELETE shortcut significantly impacted personal computing, offering an easy solution for system management and recovery, and it remains an enduring part of PC usage.

Source: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/51674/history-ctrl-alt-delete