Ada Lovelace, born in 1815, was an English mathematician and writer who is widely considered to be the first computer programmer. She is known for her work on Charles Babbage's proposed mechanical general-purpose computer, the Analytical Engine. Her notes on the engine include what is recognized as the first algorithm intended to be carried out by a machine. Lovelace is now widely celebrated as a pioneer of computing and her work is seen as a foundation for the field of computer science.