Charles Babbage Facts: The Man Behind First Mechanical Computer

Charles Babbage was an English mathematician.

Charles Babbage is considered the 'father of the computer' for his contributions to the development of modern computers. He was a mathematician, an inventor, a mechanical engineer, and a philosopher in his life.

Babbage's designs served as a pioneer for the current computers in the market. Starting from 1822, Babbage worked hard to make the calculations automatic.

Even though his designs did not have any drawbacks, lack of funding resulted in the incompleteness of his projects. In 1991, his son ultimately completed the works on the machine based on Babbage's designs. Babbage's brain is preserved in the Royal College of Surgeons in London.

Life History Of Charles Babbage

Charles Babbage was born on December 26 in London in 1791. However, there is some dispute regarding his birthplace. What we know is that he was born in the house of Betsy Plumleigh Teape and Benjamin Babbage.

The Babbage family moved to Teignmouth in 1808, and he was sent to Alphington. Babbage's love for mathematics bloomed during the years when he visited Holmwood Academy in Enfield, Middlesex.

At the age of 16-17, he had a tutor from Oxford, and under this tutor, he learned the classics of mathematics. He first got admitted into Trinity College but later moved to Peterhouse College of Cambridge.

He was the topper in mathematics in his college in 1812. While at Cambridge University, he teamed up with John Herschel and George Peacock to form the Analytical Society.

He became a lecturer of astronomy in the Royal Institution and was later elected as a fellow at the Royal Society. He was the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge between 1828 to 1839.

Charles Babbage was the founder of the Astronomical Society, and in 1824 he received the gold medal of the Royal Astronomical Society for inventing the machine that calculated mathematical and astronomical tables. Babbage created a detailed plan for building difference engines, analytical engines, and calculating engines.

Babbage married Georgiana Whitmore at St. Michael's Church, and they had eight children together. They named their children Benjamin Herschel Babbage, Edward Stewart Babbage, Charles Whitmore Babbage, Henry Prevost Babbage, Alexander Forbes Babbage, Francis Moore Babbage, Georgiana Whitmore Babbage, and Dugald Bromhead Babbage.

His youngest, the most surviving son, Henry Prevost Babbage, followed his father's footsteps and created six demonstration pieces based on Charles Babbage's Difference Engine No. 1 design. Babbage died at 79 years old.

Charles Babbage As Father Of Computer

During the early 19th century, mathematical tables were a requirement in science and engineering. It was the era of hand calculations, and they were compiled into tables.

Errors were made while using such compilations. In such a situation, Charles Babbage decided to invent a mechanical device that could perform calculations automatically. Developing such a machine would save time while producing more accurate results.

Babbage started his works in building the first model of the difference engine in 1819, and in 1822, Babbage invented the first calculating machine named 'Difference Engine 0.' The machine was called a difference engine based on the mathematical theory on which the machine was built.

It calculated and printed mathematical tables quickly. Within a while, the British Government showed interest in Babbage's machines, and he was paid a stipend to start the full-scale manufacturing of Difference Engine No. 1.

This upgraded version of the analytical engine functioned to calculate and tabulate polynomial functions. The world of building the difference engine stopped in 1833 due to cost constraints.

In 1837, Babbage got overwhelmed to build a more advanced analytical engine. This was supposed to be more powerful than the previous machines and would be the first computer for general purposes.

The technical work of this machine also stopped as the government decided to stop funding this project. Starting from 1846 up to 1849, Babbage designed the Difference Engine No. 2.

The Difference Engine No. 2 was one of the first mechanical computers ever invented.

The machine was not completely built due to lack of funding and not because of any design flaw. His design for mechanical computers was bulky and heavy, but this concept was adopted in making the modern computer. For this reason, Charles Babbage is often regarded as one of the pioneers of computers.

He also invented the pilot, which was attached to the front of a locomotive to clear tracks and ophthalmoscope. Babbage set up actuarial tables for a brief period but did not find his interest there.

Why did Charles Babbage invent the computer?

Charles Babbage got the idea of calculating tables for mechanical calculations in 1812-1813. He also made a small calculator that could calculate calculations up to the eighth place of decimal. This was the start of setting up the mechanical modes of calculations. His projects also received government funding.

However, he could never finish one due to the lack of funding in the future. It is believed that Babbage's Difference Machine No. 2 was the pioneer of modern-day computers. Unfortunately, he could never finish it due to funding problems.

Before mechanical methods were introduced, calculations and compilations were all done using human labor. Babbage realized the higher tendencies of error, time consumption, and money wastage in the method of that calculation.

He felt the clear need to build an automated device that could easily solve long and tedious calculations to eliminate such problems.

He started publicizing his calculating engine by writing a letter to the President of the Royal Society, Sir Humphry Davy. Calculating tables were required in navigation during that time, so the slightest errors caused life and death risks for sailors.

Babbage argued that automizing the calculation processes would yield more accurate results, which would, in turn, save the lives of sailors.

After being approved by the society, Babbage went ahead to ask for grants from the government, which he received. This is recorded as one of the world's first grants in the field of development and technology.

What is the name of the first computer in the world?

Even though ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) is considered the first digital general-purpose computer globally, Charles Babbage's Difference Engine No. 2 spurred the idea of modern machines among the general public London.

This device was not a simple machine because it mechanized the calculation of a series of mathematical problems. Like the present-day computer, the difference engine came with storage where data could be stored temporarily for later use.

The output could also be stamped in soft metal, which gave birth to modern-day printing. The Analytical Engine developed by Babbage and his friend Ada Lovelace was the first automated and mechanical digital computer that was totally program-controlled.

The components of the machine are an essential part of present-day computers. He wanted to automate the process of calculations as much as possible.