Ada Lovelace's Milestones

Ada Lovelace was an English mathematician who collaborated with Charles Babbage and is celebrated as the world's first computer programmer for her pioneering algorithmic work.
1815

Birth

Ada Lovelace was born Augusta Ada Byron in London, England, to poet Lord Byron and Annabella Milbanke.

Family December 10, 1815
1816

Parents separated

Her parents separated when Ada was five weeks old; she was raised solely by her mother.

Family January 16, 1816

Father left England

Lord Byron left England for Europe, never to see Ada again; he died in 1824.

Family April 25, 1816
1820

Early education

Received an advanced education in mathematics and science, guided by her mother and tutors including Mary Somerville.

Education January 1, 1820 - January 1, 1830

Early illness

Suffered from severe headaches and measles as a child, which left her temporarily paralyzed.

Other January 1, 1820 - January 1, 1821
1828

Designs flying machine

At age 12, Ada conceptualized a flying machine, showing early creativity and scientific interest.

Achievement January 1, 1828 - December 31, 1828
1832

Mathematics tutelage

Studied advanced mathematics with Mary Somerville and Augustus De Morgan.

Education January 1, 1832 - January 1, 1835
1833

Debut in London society

Presented at court and entered London high society, meeting leading scientists and intellectuals.

Other June 1, 1833

Met Charles Babbage

Met mathematician Charles Babbage, who demonstrated the Difference Engine, inspiring her lifelong interest in computing.

Relationship June 5, 1833
1835

Correspondence with Babbage

Maintained a long and intellectually rich correspondence with Charles Babbage on mathematics and computing.

Relationship January 1, 1835 - January 1, 1852

Marriage to William King

Married William King, who became Earl of Lovelace in 1838; Ada became Countess of Lovelace.

Relationship July 8, 1835
1836

Birth of first child

Gave birth to her first child, Byron King-Noel.

Family May 12, 1836
1837

Birth of second child

Gave birth to her daughter, Anne Isabella (Lady Anne Blunt).

Family September 22, 1837
1839

Birth of third child

Gave birth to her son, Ralph Gordon King-Milbanke.

Family July 2, 1839
1842

Translation of Menabrea's article

Translated Luigi Menabrea's article on Babbage's Analytical Engine and added extensive notes, including the first published algorithm for a machine.

Achievement September 1, 1842 - August 1, 1843
1843

Health struggles

Suffered from chronic illness, including uterine cancer and likely opiate addiction in her final years.

Other January 1, 1843 - November 27, 1852

First computer program

Wrote what is now recognized as the first computer program—an algorithm for the Analytical Engine to compute Bernoulli numbers.

Achievement August 1, 1843
1844

Scientific interests and gambling

Pursued interests in mathematics, science, and gambling; attempted to devise mathematical schemes for betting.

Other January 1, 1844 - December 31, 1851
1852

Death

Ada Lovelace died of uterine cancer at age 36 and was buried beside her father, Lord Byron, in Nottingham.

Other November 27, 1852
1953

Posthumous recognition

Recognized posthumously as the first computer programmer; honored by the naming of the Ada programming language and Ada Lovelace Day.

Achievement January 1, 1953 - June 5, 2025