Ada Lovelace

LOVELACE, Lady, Countess Ada Augusta, née Byron, mathematician, 1815-1852. The first computer programmer on record, employed by Babbage to write programmes for his computer projects. In 1835, at age 20, Ada invented the first sub-program for use in arithmetic calculating machines, using punched cards. Then she devised a complete programme for Babbage’s machines, also on punched cards, but they were not completed since his machine was never ready to test the program. Many years later a computer programme was named ADA in her honour.

First Computer Programmer