Biography

Charles Babbage (1791-1871), mathematician and scientist, studied at Trinity College and Peterhouse, Cambridge 1811-1814, and was Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge, 1828-1839. In addition to being a champion within the University of the 'continental notation' following Leibniz in the infinitesimal calculus, he was a pioneer of mechanical computation, designing but not completing his 'difference engines' and 'analytical engine', the latter being a conceptual forerunner of later programmable electronic devices.