Ada Lovelace is often referred to as the first computer programmer in history, and her work set the foundation for many modern inventions. She was one of the pioneering female scientists whose contributions were only recognized many years later, and we’re bringing you five interesting facts about her life and legacy.
Lord Byron’s Daughter
Lovelace was the child of the legendary poet Lord Byron and educational reformer Anne Isabella Milbanke. Despite the fact he left them shortly after her birth, she was buried next to her father at her request after dying at the young age of 36.
Mother’s Encouragement
Lovelace’s mother encouraged her to pursue mathematics and logic, fearing she would follow in her father’s footsteps. She was tutored in mathematics and science from the age of four and developed a concept for a flying machine when she was just 12.
Worthy Mentor
From the age of 17, Lovelace was mentored by the revolutionary inventor Charles Babbage, who’s often described as “the father of the computer”. Her work on Babbage’s Analytical Engine eventually set the foundations for computer programming.
Revolutionary Findings
While working on the Analytical Engine, Lovelace realized that computers could be used for more than crunching numbers. She came up with the first documented loop in computing and wrote what is considered to be the first algorithm for a computer program in a paper she published in a scientific journal in 1843.
Gambling Problems
Despite all her brilliance, Lovelace was pretty troubled and gambling was one of her biggest problems. She lost a fortune in gambling debts after trying to create a mathematical model for predicting horse race outcomes.