Ada Byron, the daughter of poet Lord Byron, was tutored in math by her mother. As a result, she grew up comfortable with the combination of art and science. She met Charles Babbage, a science and math expert. Babbage demonstrated a model of a machine that he built called a Difference Engine that could solve polynomial equations.

Ada was inspired by Babbage’s Difference Engine and decided to undertake advanced lessons in mathematics. Ada became interested in mechanical weaving looms that used punch cards to create patterns in fabric. She recognized the similarity between thelooms and Babbage’s Difference Engine. Ada married William King who became theEarl of Lovelace. This made her Ada, Countess of Lovelace, or more commonly, Ada Lovelace.