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Charles Babbage

b: Totnes, England, Dec 26, 1792

d: London, England., Oct 18, 1871

English. Mathematician. Inventor. Tried to perfect mechanical calculating machine, forshadowing computer, 1830s.

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Errors using inadequate data are much less than those using no data at all.

I wish to God these calculations had been executed by steam.

On two occasions I have been asked, 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able rightly to apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question.