Key People
George Biddell Airy

I think it likely that he lives in a sort of dream as to its utility. 1823Credit: London Illustrated News
Henry Prevost Babbage

I wished, if I could, to justify the confidence he [Babbage] had shown in me by embodying some of his ideas in metal. 1910Credit: Science Museum
Joseph Clement

You ordered a first-rate article, and you must be content to pay for it. (undated)Credit: Science Museum
John Herschel

Who the deuce ever did anything worth naming without sacrifice? 1830Credit: Science Museum
Dionysius Lardner

All the dull monotony and numerical computation is turned over to the untiring action and unerring certainty of mechanical agency. 1834Credit: Science Museum
Ada Lovelace

The Analytical Engine weaves algebraic patterns just as the Jacquard loom weaves flowers and leaves. 1843Credit: Science Museum
Robert Peel (Prime Minister)

What shall we do to get rid of Mr. Babbage and his calculating machine? 1842Credit: Science Museum
Georg & Edvard Scheutz

[Babbage] will then be known for what he truly is, namely, one of the benefactors of mankind, and one among the noblest and most ingenious of the sons of England. 1857Credit: Science Museum