NAME: Ada Lovelace

BORN/DIED:10 December 1815 – 27 November 1852

JOB: Computer Programmer, Mathematician

KEY FACTS: Ada was born in London and showed a gift for mathematics from an early age. When she was a teenager she began to work closely with British mathematician Charles Babbage, also known as ‘the father of computers’. She wrote a description of Babbage’s ‘analytical engine’ (a very early form of computer) which is considered by many to be the first computer program.

ACHIEVEMENTS: She is now considered the first computer programmer although her contributions were not recognised during her lifetime. The Ada programming language is named after her.

SUGGESTION: Order the book ‘Ada Twist, Scientist’. The central character, inspired by Ada Lovelace, embarks on fact finding missions and conducts scientific experiments, all in the name of discovery.
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