Well, it should. Ada Lovelace, Countess of Lovelace, is an English mathematician and a writer. Most of you would think ‘So? We have a lot of those these days’. So what would lit a spark in me to write about her today?
She was born on this day, in 1815 and she died at the age of 36, on the 27th of November 1852, she lived a very short life, most people who lived most of a century may think their lives were short, so they’ll probably think that 36 is but a moment spent on planet earth. But…
Ada did in her 36 years in our world something we can never have lived without our entire lives. You are surely curious to know what? So here’s a hint… You probably wouldn’t have been able to see this post if wasn’t for her.
Ada was Chiefly known for her work on Charles Babbage‘s (father of the computer) early mechanical general-purpose computer, the Analytical Engine. Her notes include what is recognised as the first algorithm intended to be processed by a machine. Because of this, she is often considered the world’s first computer programmer. Let’s say that again… The world’s first computer programmer.
Happy birthday, Ada! Thanks to your work the world will forever be able to know and celebrate your birthday today.
You can learn more about her life, works, family and her final years here: Ada Loevlace
~ A. H. Amin
ahamin 
Wow, I would’ve never known. I’ll definitely do some research on Ada now 🙂
You can write something fictional about it… like how her work had…. you know what? You’ll think of something 🙂
Ah, but first I need to finish A Heart for a Wife 🙂
It is not really fair to call Babbage the Father of the Computer, since Ada took his ideas and went places Babbage could not conceive of, they say in Tennis both players play with the same ball, but only one can score a point with it, and Lady Lovelace was time and again the person who scored, and I don’t think that just because Babbage brought the ball to the game he deserves to be called the Father when he stole and claimed credit for all her points. There is a very good movie called “Conceiving Ada” about her life.
The word ‘father’ that we use when we talk about science history is actually meant to refer that that person’s work was the first thing that led to the invention, it doesn’t mean that he was the one most credited, so it’s not that he brought the ball to the court, he was the first to draw the outline of that court.
But I do agree, Ada did take the game to a whole new level, so if he’s the father, then she is the goddess of computer, mate!
Thanks for your comment,
~ Amin
Great post! I wasn’t aware of her, but loved reading about her! 😀
Glad to be of help 🙂
I actually heard of her first in 2003 by chance, they mentioned her in a futuristic movie about an AI computer, who was also named Ada.
Thanks for your comment, Keli!
~ Amin
How effing cool is it that the first computer programmer wore a dress and not a pair of geeky glasses? Way to challenge the stereotypes. Awesome post!
I’m glad to be able to light a fire of passion in you, I hope she’ll be a good example to follow by us all.
Thanks, Margaret!
~ Amin
Nice to be reminded about an important women in history! So much of woman’s history has been lost to that of man’s.
I’m glad you liked that, and you’re right, women are harder to pinpoint through history, but one like Ada is ought to shine through them all.
Thanks, Stephanie!
~ Amin
Morning Amin! *waving* what a great post! who would have thought it went back that far:):) Enjoy your day! …..Paula x
Hi Paula! Yes, can you believe that?!
If wasn’t for her there would have been no blogs, and then what will we do? 🙂
I just wrote a post that’s made me feel low. I’m going shopping!
Retail therapy is great:) I’m glad your in my cyber life:) Thanks Ada!
Now go listen to that piano music on my blog!!! xxx