Ada Lovelace, born Ada Byron and later known as Countess of Lovelace, had a vision for the future of computing that was far ahead of her time. She saw potential in Charles Babbages Analytical Engine to go beyond mere calculations and saw the future of computing as a tool for creating any kind of content, including art, music and literature. She is credited as being the first to recognize that the potential of a computing machine and hence is often considered the worlds first computer programmer.

Ada Lovelace was born on December 10, 1815, in London, England. She was the only legitimate child of the poet Lord Byron and his wife Anne Isabella Milbanke. She was educated by her mother, who encouraged her interest in mathematics and science, an unusual focus for women at the time. When Ada was 17, she met Charles Babbage, a mathematician and inventor. The pair became friends, and Babbage served as a mentor to Ada. She was particularly interested in Babbages work on the difference engine and the analytical engine, early mechanical computers. In 1835, Ada married William King, who was made Earl of Lovelace in 1838. They had three children together. Ada Lovelace died of cancer in 1852 at the age of 36.

Although Lovelace did not receive any awards during her lifetime, her contributions to the field of computer science have been recognized posthumously. In 1979, the U.S. Department of Defense named a newly developed computer language 'Ada,' in honor of Lovelace. The Ada programming language is still in use today, particularly in systems where safety is a critical factor, such as aviation and healthcare. In 2009, the British Computer Society began awarding a medal in her name, and in 2012, they initiated an annual competition for women students of computer science. In 2012, the second Tuesday of October was named Ada Lovelace Day. It is an international celebration of the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM).