Ada Lovelace
modernEarly Computer Science and Mathematics1815 – 1852
Ada Lovelace (1815-1852) was an English mathematician and writer, chiefly known for her work on Charles Babbage's proposed mechanical general-purpose computer, the Analytical Engine. She is often regarded as the first computer programmer for her notes on the engine, which included what is recognized as the first algorithm intended to be carried out by a machine.
Notable Achievements
1
Wrote the first published algorithm intended for execution by a machine (the Analytical Engine)
2
Recognized the general-purpose potential of computing machines beyond pure calculation
3
Translated and extensively annotated Luigi Menabrea's paper on Babbage's Analytical Engine
4
Anticipated concepts of computer-generated music and symbolic computation
5
Pioneered conceptual foundations for modern computer programming