Ada Lovelace

Ada Lovelace (10 December 1815 – 27 November 1852), born Augusta Ada Byron, was an English mathematician and writer chiefly known for her work on Charles Babbage's early mechanical general-purpose computer, the Analytical Engine. Her notes on the engine include what is recognised as the first algorithm intended to be processed by a machine. Because of this, she is often regarded as the first computer programmer.

Early Life

Ada Lovelace was the only legitimate child of the poet Lord Byron and his wife Anne Isabella Milbanke, Lady Wentworth. Born in London, her father left the family when Ada was just a month old, and she never saw her father again. She was raised by her mother, Lady Byron, who encouraged Ada's interest in mathematics and logic in an effort to prevent her from developing her father's perceived insanity. Despite health problems throughout her life, Ada developed a passion for mathematics and science.

Education

Ada was privately tutored by Mary Somerville, a renowned researcher and scientific author of the 19th century, who introduced her to Charles Babbage in 1833. Babbage was a mathematician, inventor, and mechanical engineer who had proposed the Difference Engine, a design for the first automatic mechanical calculator, and later the more complex Analytical Engine, which was to be a true general-purpose computing machine.

Work with Charles Babbage

Ada Lovelace was fascinated by Babbage's ideas. In 1842, she translated an article by Italian mathematician Luigi Federico Menabrea on the Analytical Engine, supplementing it with an elaborate set of notes, simply called Notes. These notes contained what is considered the first computer program—that is, an algorithm designed to be carried out by a machine. Her work was published in 1843, under the initials A.A.L.

Lovelace's notes are important in the early history of computers. She foresaw the capability of computers to go beyond mere calculating or number-crunching, suggesting they could one day create music and art, predicting the field of computer-generated art and music. She also theorised a method for the engine to repeat a series of instructions, a process known as looping, that computer programs use today.

Legacy

Ada Lovelace died of uterine cancer in 1852 at the age of 36. Despite her short life, her contributions to the field of computer science were significant. She is remembered as the first computer programmer, and her work has inspired many in the fields of computing and mathematics. The second Tuesday in October is celebrated as Ada Lovelace Day, an international celebration of the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM).

In recognition of her contributions, the U.S. Department of Defense named a newly developed computer language "Ada" after Lovelace in 1980. The Ada programming language is still used today in some aviation and military programs.

See Also

• History of computing hardware
• Women in computing
• Charles Babbage
• Analytical Engine