Person    | Male  Born 26/12/1791  Died 18/10/1871

Charles Babbage

Categories: Science, Seriously Famous

Mathematician and pioneer of the modern computer. Probably born in Crosby Row on what is now Walworth Road. Went to school at Freeman's academy in Enfield.

He was critical, to the point of rudeness, of the Royal Society, its officers and other scientists. Even his friend, Herschel, wrote that he would like to give Babbage "a good slap in the face". After his death he was described as "an irascible genius". Ada Lovelace seems to have been able to cope with him. He died at home, 1 Dorset Street.

Most of him is buried in Kensal Green Cemetery but his brain was felt too special to be allowed to turn to dust. Half is held at the Hunterian Museum and half at the Science Museum. We learnt this at Londonist's splendid post about the Cemetery.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Charles Babbage

Commemorated ati

Charles Babbage - SE17

Plaques really should contain enough information to explain their presence at...

Read More

Charles Babbage - W1

This is where Babbage died.

Read More

Other Subjects

Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci

Scientist, artist, etc. - a polymath, the first "renaissance man". Born in Vinci, Italy (No? Really?). Died in France.

Person, Art, Science, Seriously Famous, Italy

3 memorials
Sir Edward Appleton

Sir Edward Appleton

Born Bradford. Physicist. Professor at King's College London. Nobel Laureate Ionospheric radio, 1924. Died Edinburgh.

Person, Science

1 memorial
George James Symons

George James Symons

Pioneer in the scientific study of rainfall. Born 28 Queen's Row, Pimlico. Founder of the British Rainfall Organization. Twice president of the Royal Meteorological Society. Died at home, 62 Camden...

Person, Science

1 memorial
Robert Hooke

Robert Hooke

Natural philosopher (or scientist, in today's terminology) and architect. Born Isle of Wight. Curator of Experiments at the Royal Society, Professor of Geometry at Gresham College, Surveyor to the ...

Person, Architecture, Science

1 memorial
A. V. Hill

A. V. Hill

Physiologist. Born Archibald Vivian Hill in Bristol. One of the founders of the disciplines of biophysics and operations research he shared the 1922 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his el...

Person, Science

1 memorial