Charles Babbage Biography, Computers, and Inventions.
                     Charles Babbage: 
Biography, 
Computers, and 
Inventions
Introduction
Charles Babbage was an English 
scientist: a mathematician, 
philosopher, inventor and 
mechanical engineer.
Out of all his work, Babbage is best 
remembered for originating the 
concept of a programmable 
computer.
Source: www.electronics-notes.com 
Birth
Charles Babbage was born on 26 
December 1791 and was most likely to 
have been born at 44 Crosby Row, 
Walworth Road, London, England. 
There is some dispute about the date 
of his birth because The Times 
newspaper in their obituary of him 
gave his date of birth as 1792, but as 
the local parish register shows he was 
baptised in early 1920, the date given 
in The Times is probably incorrect.
Source: www.electronics-notes.com 
Early life
When the young Charles Babbage 
was eight years old, he attended 
Alphington near Exeter to recover 
from ill-health and to receive 
schooling. 
Then he moved to King Edward VI 
Grammar School located in Totnes 
South Devon, but poor health meant 
he needed to be taught by private 
tutors.
Source: www.electronics-notes.com 
Charles Babbage at 
Cambridge
Charles Babbage went up to 
Cambridge in October 1810. His 
previous studies had prepared him 
very well for his time there. 
While at Cambridge, Babbage made 
links with other people whose names 
were to become widely known in the 
scientific community including John 
Herschel, and George Peacock.
Source: www.electronics-notes.com 
Marriage
In 1814 - the same year that 
Babbage graduated from 
Cambridge, he married Georgiana 
Whitmore. 
They had eight children together, 
but only three lived beyond 
childhood.
Source: www.electronics-notes.com 
Professional Life
After he had graduated at 
Cambridge, Babbage was taken on 
by the Royal Society - an august 
scientific society in London. 
His appointment entailed lecturing 
on Calculus. He was very successful 
and after two years he was elected a 
member.
Source: www.electronics-notes.com 
Babbage's 
computers
Charles Babbage is chiefly known 
for his work on computers. In the 
1820s, he worked on what he called 
his 'Difference Engine.’ 
The initial machine used six wheels 
and could perform mathematical 
calculations. He used this machine 
to demonstrate the principle to a 
number of audiences.
Source: www.electronics-notes.com 
Difference Engine
The Difference Engine was the first 
of Babbage's inventions. He 
designed it in the 1820s and then 
built it with funding he obtained. 
The name comes from the method of 
divided differences which is used to 
interpolate or tabulate functions by 
using a small set of polynomial 
coefficients.
Source: www.electronics-notes.com 
Analytical Engine
Babbage's Analytical Engine was a 
design that was undertaken to 
create a mechanical general-purpose 
computer. 
Babbage first mentioned the 
Analytical Engine in 1837 and it was 
the successor to his difference 
engine.
Source: www.electronics-notes.com 
Other inventions
Babbage invented what he termed 
the pilot. Today it is known as a cow-
catcher. It was a metal frame 
attached to the front of railway 
locomotives used to clear the tracks 
of obstacles in 1838. 
He also performed several studies 
on Isambard Kingdom Brunel's 
Great Western Railway.
Source: www.electronics-notes.com