Charles Babbage

Full Name: Mr. Charles Babbage
Date of Birth: December 26, 1791
Place of Birth: London, England
Died: October 18, 1871
Place of Death: London, England
Classification: Scientists & Thinkers

Now a realized genius of his era, Charles Babbage was an inventor, mathematician, philosopher, and a pioneer in the way that analysis of data in production systems should be read. His designs and thought processes established the basis for the binary language of modern digital computers. His whole life he attempted to get funding to support his projects from the government of England, but after many years delay and red tape, he was never given the full opportunity to explore his ideas to their potential.

Born in England, Charles was lucky enough to receive private tutoring during his younger years. When he went to Trinity College, he was turned off by the sort of math that was taught, so he decided to form his own math group known as the Analytical Society who would apply scientific logic and thought to test mathematical ideas of the time.

Charles Babbage always had a dream of constructing a machine that would not only produce mathematical tables, but would calculate the most finite of differences in those calculations. He would call it a difference engine and while he took his ideas down many possible avenues in order to get funding, his dreams were never fully realized. He was able to invent a small calculator that gave exact numerals to eight decimals and later worked on one that would calculate those to beyond 20 decimals.

By 1830, Babbage wanted to build an analytical engine that many describe nowadays as the first digital computer. This machine would store numbers, perform calculations based on punch cards, and provide sequential control. While his machine was never completely built, the design was found completed in his own notebooks. Interestingly, during this time, he served as a professor and helped the government with problems they were facing, such as finding a solution to the expanding postal system. He wrote and published about mathematics, and commentaries on the social stagnation of science and math in England. He also wrote and studied much about religion, language, art, and even helped in designing and modeling submarines. Although his autobiography was never written, England had much they owed to Charles Babbage. His insight and prodding helped England pick up their own pace, especially in math.