Biography
Charles Babbage - British mathematician, philosopher, inventor and engineer, creator of the concept of a digital programmable computer. Thanks to versatile knowledge and work in various scientific spheres, Babbage is among the most prominent polymatists of the XIX century.
Charles Babbage was born on December 26, 1791 in London, in the family of Benjamin Babbidja and Elizabeth (Betsy) Flame Type. In the family, in addition to the boy, there were still three children. In 1808, Babbiji moved to Eastern Tingmouth.
The father of the future scientist was enough to ensure that when the son turned 8 years old, send him to a private school in Alfington. The priest who was engaged in the education of the boy, recommended not too load a child: In childhood, Charles often sick, and parents chose the countryside to help their son cope with the effects of severe fever.
Later, Charles attended the gymnasium in Totnes in South Devon for some time, but weak health soon forced him to return to study from private teachers. After receiving school education, Babbage entered the Academy in Enfield. In this educational institution there was an extensive library, thanks to which the young man became interested in mathematics. Later, Charles again studied from private teachers to achieve knowledge sufficient to enter Cambridge.
In 1810, Babbage became a student of Trinity College, but the curriculum soon disappointed the young man - he possessed great knowledge than the teacher. Together with friends in 1812, Charles formed an analytical society, and then transferred to another Cambridge College, Peterhouse, in which he completed in 1814, without exams receiving a bachelor's degree.
Mathematics and inventions
Thanks to the reputation of one of the best graduates, Charles quickly achieved success in the scientific field. Already in 1815, he lectured at the Royal Institute, and in 1816 he became a member of the Royal Society. With a quarry, however, did not fit, and, claiming teaching positions, he repeatedly received refuses. Therefore, until 1827, a man was financially dependent on his father and received money at his own disposal only after his death.
Charles Babbage was a scientist who contributed to many accurate sciences, from astronomy to the economy. But the most famous heritage of it was the works in the development of computing apparatuses, anticipating computers and modern computers.
The first such project in the male biography was a big difference machine. The idea of its creation appeared at Charles in 1822. The apparatus on the idea was to help people in the calculations needed for astronomy and navigation, which at that time occupied a lot of time and were conjugate with the risk of mistakes admitted by a person.
In 1823, the young scientist was allocated to the creation of the apparatus, since the royal, and astronomical society with enthusiasm perceived the idea of Babbja. However, Charles failed to correctly calculate the time or means. The planned 3 years and the obtained £ 1,500 categorically did not have enough.
By 1827, the spending rose more than 2 times, and the considerable funds of Babbija had to lay out from their own pocket. The work temporarily had to leave, after the personal tragedy, Charles could not continue scientific research, and the scientist managed to return to the difference machine only in 1828. The money by that time was over, and to get additional funding from the Babbage state only in 1830.
After 4 years, the work again stood up, despite the huge amounts already spent on the design of the product. £ 17 thousand. Allocated to the creation of a difference machine, the state, another £ 6-7 thousand. Invested the scientist himself. Until 1842, the authorities decide whether to continue to invest in the project, and as a result refused. During the lifetime of Charles, the device was never dodel. In the late 1840s, the man returned to the idea of a difference machine and conceived to create an improved version, but this attempt was not crowned with success.
Difficult and non-response work with a difference machine did not stop the flight of Charles's thoughts, and in 1833 a new idea came to his head - to create an analytical machine, a device that could be programmed. Unlike a difference machine, she could solve more complex tasks.
In 1834, Babbage began to create an analytical machine, the predecessor of digital computers that brought Glory to him, albeit after death. The design of the device meant the presence of memory (warehouse), mills (processor analog), control and device for entering and outputting data. Also in the design there was another element that regulated the sequence of operations, interacting with the "warehouse" and read the data from the punched.
Over the project, Charles worked independently, and the only person who saw the full potential of the idea was Hell Lovelace, a woman who today is considered the first programmer. Its works, based on the project of an analytical machine, are considered the first work in the field of computer science.
Despite the fact that scientific circles showed interest in the analytical computing machine, it, as well as the difference machine, was not completed. In 1851, the scientist wrote that his possibilities, primarily financial, is not enough to end the work.
Charles's work after the death of a scientist continued his son Henry. By 1888, he managed to create a central assembly of an analytic machine, and in 1906, with the assistance of the MONRO company, the Babbird Junior was made a full-fledged and efficient model.
Charles works in the area of the difference machine also had a continuation: in its drawings, several devices in 1854 were released in Sweden. Then Martin Vieberg introduced into the improvement model, after which it used the machine for calculations in the field of logarithmic tables.
Partially the reason for failures was the excessive versatile passion for babbej. He paid a lot of time to other scientific fields, and with success. Interest in railway report led to the fact that Charles invented a speedometer and became one of the creators of the tachometer. There is something to thank scientist and metalworking: innovative machines designed babbeck, as well as a method of making gear wheels.
An important lifetime work of the scientist became the work of the economy of technologies and production. The topic raised in the book today is called "Research Operations". After publication, the work was perfectly sold and in 1836 there were already 4 reprints. Subsequently, John Mill was inspired by Charles in the economy, and the loyalty of the approach of Babjja to the division of labor was noticed by Carl Marx.
Personal life
On July 25, 1814, in the Tingmouth Church of St. Michael Charles Babbage combined with a marriage with Georgian Whitmore. Initially, the couple lived in Shropshire, then in 1815 moved to Devonshire Street to London.
In marriage at Charles and Georgians, 8 children were born, but only four Benjamin, Georgiana, Dughad and Henry were survived. The hardest period in the personal life of Charles was 1827, then the father, wife and two sons of a scientist died.
An interesting fact: For the merit, Babbija was offered both baron and knightly titles, but because of their political views he refused and from the other.
Death
Charles Babbage died on October 18, 1871 in 79 years. The cause of death was the renal failure caused by the infection of the urinary system. The scientist is buried at the London Censal Green Cemetery (it is the cemetery of all shower).
Scientific achievements and inventions of Babbja in the field of computing equipment were recognized only after the death of Charles. In 2011, British researchers began a multi-million project "Plan 28", designed to create an analytical machine of Babbja. The device must have 675 memory bytes and work at a frequency of 7 Hz. It is planned to complete the work of enthusiasts by 2021, timing the construction of the car to the 150th anniversary of the death of Charles Babbja.
Because of the connection of a scientist with Totnes in 2007, his portrait appeared on a banknote with a denomination of 5 Lotton pounds, regional local currency.