Mr. Babbage
Babbage, Charles
Charles Babbage (1791-1871), a British scientist who introduced the concepts behind the present-day computer. In the 1820s, Babbage designed Calculating Engines and table-making Difference Engines; far more ambitious were his Analytical Engines, which he designed as a mechanical-digital computurs. These designs were flexible and powerful, punched card controlled general-purpose calculators, embodying many features that would later be incorporated into the modern stored-program computer. The machines were never built due to a lack of funds, but in 1991 British scientists, following Babbage's detailed drawings and specifications, constructed the Difference Engine. The machine worked flawlessly, calculating up to a precision of 31 digits, demonstrating the soundness of Babbage's design.
Further Reading
Charles Babbage (The Science Museum, UK)
