Ada Lovelace - the first computer programmer?

Ada Lovelace, was an English mathematician and writer, who has been cited as the first computer programmer. She was the daughter of Lord Byron, the English writer and poet, whose interest in mathematics and logic was encouraged by her mother, Lady Byron, who wanted to prevent her from developing her father's perceived romanticist insanity.

Ada was born Augusta Ada Byron, Countess of Lovelace, in 1815. Although she struggled with illness throughout childhood, she ardently pursued her studies, and showed her gift for mathematics at an early age. She became interested in an article on an invention by Charles Babbage, and added her own comments to his proposed mechanical general-purpose Analytical Engine (Difference Engine), in the early 1830's - widely regarded as the conception of the first computer, intended to perform mathematical calculations.

Through Babbage, who Lovelace met around the age of 17, she began studying advanced mathematics with University of London professor Augustus de Morgan. Lovelace was fascinated by Babbage's ideas.

Lovelace is considered by some to have been the first person to have an algorithm published that was tailored specifically for implantation (programming) on a computer. However, Babbage's engine was never completed, so her program was never tested. She died in 1852 at the age of 36.

Some biographers, computer scientists and historians of computing dispute her programming achievements. Allan G Bromley wrote in 1990 in his article Difference and Analytical Engines: 'All but one of the programs cited in her notes had been prepared by Babbage from three to seven years earlier.'

For her pioneering work in maths as a female, Lovelace has become revered in popular culture, having, for example, been featured in an episode of Doctor Who in 2020.

Ada Lovelace - the first computer programmer?

Further reading