Ada Lovelace, By Meghna Cherian
Charles Babbage First Computer
Born Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace, few may recognize this name but will have no trouble in realizing the worth of her title in the modern-day. Lovelace was the first computer programmer in history. It does strike me, in a sadly comical way, she singlehandedly paved the path for an industry that today is primarily male-dominated and still struggles to embrace and encourage women in the field.
Born to the famous poet Lord Byron, and Lady Byron, her parents separated shortly after her birth. Ada was the only biological child of both her parents and was deemed a disappointment from the very start, as her father expected a ‘glorious boy.’ I highly doubt he could have foretold the badass woman she’d blossom into soon. In a bid to ensure her daughter didn't take after the brooding, poetic whims of her father, Lady Byron ensured Ada was given an early and comprehensive education in mathematics and science by some of the country’s finest figures in science at the time, including Mary Somerville, who would go on to become a member of the Royal Astronomical Society. This intervention in itself was a bold move by her mother, when at the time, young girls were meant to be seen, not heard, paint and read, not think or learn or discover. Along with her strict education, Ada proved a sharp ability in mathematics and science at a young age, even illustrating a ‘flying vehicle’ with a steam engine, decades before the first airplane was ever conceptualized.
Although her childhood seemed glossy and rich on the outside, its innards were dark and difficult. Ada was prone to falling ill often, burdened at a time with headaches that impaired her sight. Afterward, paralyzed by a bout of measles, she was fated to a long and lonely bed rest of almost a year.
Lady Byron put up a maternal affinity as a facade and was uninterested in Ada, leaving her in care of her maternal grandmother, Judith. In one of her mother’s letters to Judith, Lady Byron wrote, "I talk to it for your satisfaction, not my own.” – ‘it’ being Ada. Her mother had close friends spy on Ada. Friends who Ada later said would spin tales about her behavior and cast her in a dire light.
Despite such turmoil at a young age, not only did Ada show a capacity for learning, but a keen and charming resiliency which allowed her to blossom into a bright, well-read young woman.
Through Somerville, at age 17, Mary was introduced to the British mathematician Charles Babbage, a man who would, in his quest to invent a more complex and capable calculator of sorts, would go on to allow the invention of what is known as the modern-day computer. Ada and Charles bonded over their shared love of the sciences and would maintain communication with one another for the remainder of her life. He was so impressed by her knowledge he would introduce her to his work and projects at the time. This chance meeting would spark the butterfly effect of incidents that would lead Ada to the peak of her career.
As most ‘dutiful’ did women at the time, in 1835, she married William, 8th Baron King. She put a pause on her learnings to take on her homely and motherly duties. However, nothing could keep her apart from her first love – the sciences –and she returned to it with open arms as soon as she could.
In 1834 Babbage had created the Analytical Engine. In 1842, Italian mathematician, Louis Menebrea, wrote a French memoir on the Engine. Later, Ada was asked to translate the piece into English, and so she did, over a period of nine months, which seemed almost serendipitous as this would give birth to one her most memorable works. Ada had created an addition to the translation titled "Notes," which was three times longer than the original article. It seemed as she simply couldn’t help playing Midas, turning what she touched into gold. Although, she only added her Initials ‘A.A.L.’ in the publication – perhaps a subconscious metaphor for the need to hide as a woman who could, *gasp*, outwit – and out-write- a man.
Ada also took on a prophetic perspective. She believed the Analytic Engine was capable of much more, stating, “The Analytical Engine weaves algebraic patterns just as the Jacquard loom weaves flowers and leaves.” Perhaps her mother’s tactics did not entirely work as Ada still seemed to have a flair for poetry in her – likening the Engine to a multi-purpose machine – the very ones you're probably reading this on. Lovelace was said to describe in her ‘Notes’ as to how the Analytical Engine could interpret not just numbers, but letters and symbols. She also conceived the theory of ‘looping’ in programming, which is still used to this day. All this lead her to be touted as the world’s first computer programmer.
Sadly, in her later years, Ada dipped her toes in the gambling pool, where for once, the numbers failed her, and she ended up drowning in debt. She died at age 36, succumbing to uterine cancer. Ada’s work didn't receive the attention it deserved while she was alive, and was revived in the 1850s by B.V. Bowden, where they were published in his book. Since then, it has been said to have a profound effect on the way computer programs operate and created a new lens through which people viewed them and their capabilities.
While she made strides in technology, so did she socially. A feminist tale in its own right, she fought personal and societal battles through the sheer passion burning within her. Ada once said, ‘Your best and wisest refuge from all troubles is in your science,’ and today I found refuge in the history of this remarkable woman. A story of strength, genius, and the power a woman holds, a power we need to be reminded of.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_Lovelace#First_computer_program