Charles Babbage

English mathematician, philosopher, and engineer (1791–1871)

AI overview

Charles Babbage was an English mathematician, philosopher, and engineer who lived from 1791 to 1871. He is historically significant as a pioneering figure in computing, known for designing mechanical calculating machines that foreshadowed modern computers.

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Person · Open Library

Born: 1791
Died: 1871
Works: 117

Top works

Table of logarithms of the natural numbers, from 1 to 108,000
Table of the logarithms of the natural numbers
Notice respecting some errors common to many tables of logarithms
On the influence of signs in mathematical reasoning
Scriptores optici

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Total plays: 5

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Recent publications · Crossref

5 total works indexed

SciPy 1.0: fundamental algorithms for scientific computing in Python
· 2020 · cited 34,574x
The Pittsburgh sleep quality index: A new instrument for psychiatric practice and research
· 1989 · cited 28,438x
Human-level control through deep reinforcement learning
· 2015 · cited 22,904x
Array programming with NumPy
· 2020 · cited 22,047x
Reproducible, interactive, scalable and extensible microbiome data science using QIIME 2
· 2019 · cited 19,976x

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Quotes

“Mr. Herschel ... brought with him the calculations of the computers, and we commenced the tedious process of verification. After a time many discrepancies occurred, and at one point these discordances were so numerous that I exclaimed, "I wish to God these calculations had been executed by steam," to which Herschel replied, "It is quite possible."”
“If this were true, the population of the world would be at a stand-still. In truth, the rate of birth is slightly in excess of death. I would suggest that the next edition of your poem should read: “Every moment dies a man, every moment 1 1/16 is born.” Strictly speaking, the actual figure is so long I cannot get it into a line, but I believe the figure 1 1/16 will be sufficiently accurate for poetry.”
“It is therefore not unreasonable to suppose that some portion of the neglect of science in England, may be attributed to the system of education we pursue. A young man passes from our public schools to the universities, ignorant of almost every branch of useful knowledge; and at these latter establishments … classical and mathematical pursuits are nearly the sole objects proposed to the student's ambition.”
“The object of the present volume is to point out the effects and the advantages which arise from the use of tools and machines ;—to endeavour to classify their modes of action ;—and to trace both the causes and the consequences of applying machinery to supersede the skill and power of the human arm.”
“The errors which arise from the absence of facts are far more numerous and more durable than those which result from unsound reasoning respecting true data.”
“It appears to me, that any explanation of the cheapness of manufactured articles, as consequent upon the division of labour, would be incomplete if the following principle were omitted to be stated.”

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Wikidata facts

Image: Charles Babbage - 1860.jpg
Number of children: 8

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Commons category: Charles Babbage
date of birth: 1791-12-26
date of death: 1871-10-18
Commons gallery: Charles Babbage
name in native language: Charles Babbage
P12749: Gitta Lind
Commons Creator page: Charles Babbage

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Article

Charles Babbage (/ˈbæbɪdʒ/; 26 December 1791 – 18 October 1871) was an English polymath. A mathematician, philosopher, inventor and mechanical engineer, Babbage originated the concept of a digital programmable computer.

Babbage is considered by some to merit the title of "father of the computer". He is credited with inventing the first mechanical computer, the difference engine, that eventually led to more complex electronic designs, though all the essential ideas of modern computers are to be found in his analytical engine, programmed using a principle openly borrowed from the Jacquard loom. As part of his computer work, he also designed the first computer printers. He had a broad range of interests in addition to his work on computers, covered in his 1832 book Economy of Manufactures and Machinery. He was an important figure in the social scene in London, and is credited with importing the "scientific soirée" from France with his well-attended Saturday evening soirées. His varied work in other fields has led him to be described as "pre-eminent" among the many polymaths of his century.