Most Influential People Of the World: Ada Lovelace

3 Sept 2021 · 4 min

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4:12

In this narrated video, Lois Letchford presents a concise biography of Ada Lovelace (1815‑1852), highlighting her lineage as the daughter of poet Lord Byron and Anne Isabella Milbanke, her upbringing under a mother determined to steer her toward mathematics, and her early lack of interest in the subject. At age 18, Lovelace met Charles Babbage, whose work on the Analytical Engine sparked her fascination and led her to write what is widely regarded as the first computer program. The video notes her marriage to William King, later the 1st Earl of Lovelace, and her mentorship by polymath Mary Somerville, one of the first women admitted to the Royal Astronomical Society. Lovelace’s social circle included Charles Dickens, Michael Faraday, Charles Wheatstone, and Augustus De Morgan. The narrative underscores the limited scientific training available to women in Victorian England, describing how societal constraints contributed to her later struggles with alcoholism, gambling, and depression, culminating in her death at 36. Letchford frames Lovelace’s story as both a testament to her extraordinary intellect and a reflection on the broader challenges faced by women in science, concluding with a call to learn more about her contributions to mathematics and computing.

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Hello, I'm Lois Letchford, author of the book Reversed: A Memoir and sharing stories of scientists who changed the world from the book Eureka. And today we have another woman, Ada Lovelace. 1815 she was born and died in 1852. The poet's daughter. Who became a mathematician and devised what's arguably the first computer program. Although for some while she kept it dark about it, Ada Lovelace was the daughter of the poet Byron. Byron was married to Ada's mother, Anne Isabelle Milbanke, but only for about a year before they separated. Ada was born a few weeks prior to the separation and never knew her father, who had died in Greece just before she was 8. Her mother, determined Ada should be anything but a poet, schooled her rigorously in maths, a subject in which Ada wasn't then much interested. She enjoyed geography. However, When she was 18, she met the mathematician Charles Babbage, who was trying to build what we now recognize as the first computer. She realized the potential of the idea, and suddenly the math that seemed so tedious became far more interesting. The following year, Ada married William King. Who in 1838 became the 1st Earl of Lovelace and was himself enough of a scientist to be elected to the Royal Society in 1841. Everyone agreed Ada had a brilliant mind. She was mentored by Mary Somerville, the extraordinary polymath who, in an age when women were generally barred by social pressures from the scientists, showed what nonsense that was by educating herself to rival the menfolk. In 1835, Somerville became one of the first 2 women to be admitted to the members of Royal Astronomical Society. Among Ada Lovelace's acquaintances was Charles Dickens, and the scientist Charles Wheatstone, Michael Faraday, and Augusta de Morgan. Unfortunately, she didn't have significant scientific training at the day. It was not available for women. And you can read more about her because her life ties with the Babbage. And it goes on to say Lovelace was only 36 when she died. Her later years became a quicksand of alcoholism and gambling. She devised this mathematical system, you see, of— and depression. Bearing in mind Victorian England's ruthless suppression of female scientific ambitions, it may seem unsurprising to us that the extremely gifted Ada Ludlace— acted in this way. So life is a challenge for women. It was back then. I think things have changed for the better. Women face many more challenges. So find out more about Ada Lovelace and all she did with mathematics and writing the first computer program. Thank you. Hit like, hit subscribe. Subscribe and find out more about these people who've changed our lives.