Ada Lovelace
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.031371
Today is the birthday of Ada Lovelace, who was born in 1815 in London. Ada’s father was the poet George Byron. Her mother, Annabella, was determined that Lovelace would not become a headstrong poet like her father, so Lovelace was taught mathematics among other sober subjects. Thanks to her high position in society, Lovelace conducted correspondences with Charles Dickens, Michael Faraday, and other distinguished Victorians. Lovelace became an accomplished mathematician and logician. She is best known today for her work with computer pioneer Charles Babbage. Her notes on Babbage’s Difference Engine amount to a description of the first-ever computer algorithm. The computer language Ada was named in her honor.
Date in History: 10 December 1815
