Charles Babbage was a mathematician, theorist, creator, and mechanical engineer, best remembered for creating the concept of the programmable computer. Considered a "father of the computer", for his work in developing a difference machine and for laying down ideas for an analytical machine that would pave the way for more complex models that would later be recognized as the modern computer. Babbage invented the first mechanical computer which eventually led to more complex designs. His diverse work in other fields led him to be labeled "pre-eminent" among the many eclectic scholars of his time. Charles Babbage was born in London on 26 December 1791. Babbage was one of four children of Benjamin Babbage and Betsy Plumleigh. Tea. His father was a banking partner of William Praed at Praed & Co. in 1801. Around the age of eight Babbage was sent to a country school at Alphington near Exeter to recover from a life-threatening fever. For a short time he attended King Edward VI Grammar School at Totnes, south Devon, but his health forced him to return to private tutors for a time. Babbage attended Trinity College, Cambridge, in October 1810. He taught himself contemporary mathematics and was disappointed by the ordinary mathematical education offered at Cambridge. As a student, Babbage was a member of societies such as The Ghost Club, interested in the exploration of paranormal phenomena, and the Extractors Club, dedicated to rescuing its members from mental institutions, in case anyone was committed to one. In 1812 Babbage moved to Peterhouse, Cambridge. He was the best mathematician there, but did not graduate with honors. Instead, he obtained his degree without an exam in 1814. He had strengthened a thesis considered audacious in the initial design criteria of the pu......middle of paper. Despite the statement: "The drawings of the analytical engine were made entirely at my own expense: I initiated a long series of experiments with the aim of reducing the expenses of its construction to such limits as could be within the means I could afford." supply. I am now resigned to the necessity of abstaining from its construction...", Babbage did not at all give up hope that the engine would be built. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech /710950.stm http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects/computing_and_data_processing/1992-556.aspx www.biography.com3d-car-shows.com/ada-lovelace-the-mother-of-computer-programmingwww .newworldencyclopedia.org /entry/Charles_Babbage‎ www.fmf.uni-lj.si/~vavpetic/.../Ba.html‎ www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/Printonly/Babbage.html‎ www.engineering. com/Library/ArticlesPage/.../Charles-Babbage.aspx