Essay On Charles Babbage

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Charles Babbage was a mathematician, theorist, creator, and mechanical engineer, who is best recalled for originating the concept of a programmable computer. Considered a, “father of the computer”, for his labor in evolving a difference machine and drafting ideas for an analytic machine that would pave the way for more intricate models that would come to be acknowledged as the modern computer. Babbage invented the first mechanical computer that eventually led to more intricate designs. His diverse work in additional fields has led him to be labeled as “pre-eminent” among the many polymaths of his time.
Charles Babbage was born in London on December 26, 1791. Babbage was one of four children of Benjamin Babbage and Betsy Plumleigh Teape. His father was a banking partner of William Praed in Praed & Co. in 1801.
Around the age of eight Babbage was sent to a country school in Alphington near Exeter to recuperate from a life threatening fever. For a small time he attended King Edward VI Grammar School in Totnes, South Devon, but his health forced him back to private tutors for a time. Babbage attended Trinity College, Cambridge, in October 1810. He taught himself in contemporary math and was let down in the ordinary math education offered at Cambridge. As a student, Babbage was a member of societies such as The Ghost Club, concerned with exploring paranormal phenomena and the Extractors Club, dedicated to rescuing its members from the mental institution, should any be committed to one. In 1812 Babbage transferred to Peterhouse, Cambridge. He was the top mathematician there, but did not graduate with honors. He instead received a degree without examination in 1814. He had fortified a thesis that was thought to be bold in the initial pu...

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...s own design criteria. Despite the statement,
“The drawings of the Analytical Engine have been made entirely at my own cost: I instituted a long series of experiments for the purpose of reducing the expense of its construction to limits which might be within the means I could myself afford to supply. I am now resigned to the necessity of abstaining from its construction...”
, Babbage by no means gave up hope that the engine would be constructed.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/710950.stm http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects/computing_and_data_processing/1992-556.aspx www.biography.com
3d-car-shows.com/ada-lovelace-the-mother-of-computer-programming
www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Charles_Babbage‎ www.fmf.uni-lj.si/~vavpetic/.../Ba.html‎ www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/Printonly/Babbage.html‎
www.engineering.com/Library/ArticlesPage/.../Charles-Babbage.aspx

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