Charles Babbage By Paul Gehle

Who is Babbage? An English mathematician and scientist. Created a machine that read punch cards to solve math problems. It was called the “Difference engine”.

Early Life Born: December 26, 1791 Place of birth: London, England Family: Benjamin Babbage(father) & Betsy Plumleigh Babbage(mother). School attended: Trinity College, Cambridge, 1811

Place in History He was deemed the “Father of Computing” for his detailed plans for mechanical Calculating engines. Its function was added to modern day computers. Built a second machine, the “Analytical engine”.

Other Accomplishments Created several other inventions beside the Difference engine ◦Ex. Cowcatcher, railroad gauge, lights for lighthouses, and dynamometer. Wrote novels on technology, math and philosophy

Reason to build the engine High error rate in calculating math tables. Wanted to build something that can solve problems without human error. He started constructing the difference engine but it was incomplete do to lack of funding.

Partners with Lovelace Augusta Ada Lovelace ( ) She wrote programs for a machine Babbage didn’t build. They both worked on their machine that could solve problem and read programs.

Other use of machine The prototype was given to the Navy to help with navigation.

Death Died: Oct 18, 1871 in London, England at age 80. Reason: Supposedly from old age.

Sources Analytical-Engine-A-portion-of-Charles-Babbages-Analytical-Engine Analytical-Engine-A-portion-of-Charles-Babbages-Analytical-Engine