The Brilliant Mind of Ada Lovelace: Victorian Countess & Computer Programmer

Introducing a brilliant woman of science from the 1800s: Ada Lovelace. She was the daughter of Lord Byron, became a countess, and designed the first computer program...even though she lived more than a century before the first modern computer. Learn about her brilliance and creativity in this episode of Great Minds on SciShow!

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[jmnaras]

I'm studying CS in college now. Sometimes I feel like I don't belong in a class or event because I'm one of the only girls. But then I remember Ada Lovelace and how what I'm studying wouldn't have existed without her and I feel much better.

[shanrocks]

Ada Lovelace is such a poetic name. It sounds more like a romance novelist's pen-name than a mathematician. No wonder her father was Lord Byron.

[DaDarthDoc]

Imagine how she would react to today. Wow. Just wow.

[ADyingFaith]

What a wonderful title to hold The Enchantress of Numbers.

[savagegardenrox]

I just wanted to say that I love how many Great Minds episodes have looked at female scientists. Thanks SciShow!

[solafaghoneim]

The Enchantress of Numbers
I absolutely love her title. It simply reflects how much passion she had towards her work, just like many other scientists.

[moristar]

It's so emotionally mind-blowing, how people had a vision of something that was yet to come in far away future.
Great episode. Great scientist.

[TheMasonX]

All of that by the age of 36, if she'd lived longer, we'd have AI by now. Damn cancer.

[rachelbrain]

She's been a hero of mine since high school and a huge inspiration for me to pursue a career in computer programming. If I ever have a daughter, her middle name will be Ada.

[matthewlaurence]

I find fault with some of the information in this video: 0:48 the part about Byron encouraging his daughter to pursue a career in science. He had next to nothing to do with her, hating his unfortunate wife and mistreated for no reason beyond the fact that he was depressed, fleeing England to escape arrest and prosecution, when Ada was a baby and dying abroad when she was 8 years old.

[ghastor]

I'm beginning to detect a theme:
everyone dies of cancer

[NickBriz]

Great Video!!! :D ...one tiny edit ^__^ Babbage never asked Ada Lovelace to translate Menabrea's Italian report on the analytical engine, she took it upon herself to translate ( and improve ) it, then showed Babbage a draft like BAM && he pooped himself with enthusiasm ( source: Gleick, the Information pg 115 ), i sound nit-picky i know ☛ but i think it illustrates how large+in+charge she was ☛ "I believe myself to possess a most singular combination of qualities exactly fitted to make me pre-eminently a discoverer of the hidden realities of nature..." - Ada Lovelace, she doesn't ask for permission ❤

[BasBleu]

The women of her day were educated in languages, handicrafts, music and polite conversation. Her father died when she was a young child, so the kudos go to her mother, Anne, who chose to use Byron's money and influence to provide a highly unusual education for her daughter.

[TiaShelley]

Seeing Ada Lovelace here today has definitely made my afternoon. She is my frakking hero. I second the nomination for Grace Hopper!

[pasapdub]

THANKS! She's one of my daughter's too, now. Glad you introduced her to a new fan group!

[ajliff]

At last thank you! She is one of my inspirations along with Marie Currie

[roses]

Interesting how both her and her father made such impacts on the modern world in entirely different areas. They also both died at 36. What a great woman.

[AnthonyMcqueen]

As a programmer I know she is and respect what she did and discovered.

All I know if she didn't create algorithms etc we wouldn't have all the tech most ppl take advantage today.

She is a legend most of the great programmers in history are women.

[BasBleu]

She's a hero of mine, too. While already a "non-traditional" (read: old) student of CS, I heard her mentioned in passing in a lecture and did some research. She fascinated me ... what an intellect! How she influenced the men that people took seriously ... ahhhh! :-)

[mommakeeks]

My daughter was doing a paper on Ada Lovelace. She watched your video but complained that you spoke too fast. So we replayed it at 0.75X. It was so bizarre but also hilarious because you sounded a bit inebriated. But she was able to follow along much better. Highly recommend it for giggles. Thank you so much as always for wonderful content. Much appreciated