Wednesday’s wise woman … Ada Byron

Ada Byron (1815-1852), born in London; the only legitimate child of the poet Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) and Anne Isabella Milbanke. Born Augusta Ada Byron but better as Ada Lovelace; didn’t have a close relationship with her father; her parents separated when she was a month old and he died when she was eight.
Ada was a sickly child and suffered headaches and blurred vision. Later, after a bout of measles she was paralysed and confined to bed.  As a result she could only walk with the aid of crutches.  However during this time she continued her education.  Her mother obsessed with the idea that Ada may be insane; taught her mathematics from a young age. She was schooled privately by eminent mathematicians of the day
By the time she was seventeen she was recognised as having ‘remarkable mathematical abilities’ and her interest dominated the rest of her adult life.
Ada formed a close relationship with Mary Somerville a former tutor, researcher and scientific author.  In 1834 Somerville introduced Ada to Charles Babbage (1791-1871) an English  mathematician, philosopher and inventor.
Byron translated into English an Italian article about Babbage; the inventor of an imaginary calculating machine. This machine would make predictions and act on them.  Byron added her own ideas to Babbage’s theory.  Her plan is now regarded as the very first computer programme.