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.

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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...

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Charles Babbage - W1

This is where Babbage died.

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Sir Andrew Ramsay

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George Bentham

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John Desmond Bernal, MA, FRS.

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Previously viewed

Sutton House & the Robertson brothers

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E9, Homerton High Street, Sutton House

The plaque is on the wall of the house, framed in our picture by the gate piers.

War dead | WW1
2 subjects commemorated, 2 creators
Cosmo Restaurant

Cosmo Restaurant

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November 2014 the plaque was reported as "torn down" but, with promises of a replacement we won't mark it as lost, and hope someone can c...

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J. C. F. Warrington Rogers

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Sir Glenn Torpy, Air Chief Marshal

Sir Glenn Torpy, Air Chief Marshal

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Robert Easton

Robert Easton

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1 memorial