This was the world the baby in the carriage was born into Back then machines were designed by men Women in the nineteenth century had hardly any education and even less power None of those male inventors would ever have imagined that one day one small machine might let you count and write watch a movie talk to friends and more But when the baby grew up she wouldn’t have been surprised at all One day she would have a computer software language named after her as well as a medal for people who have made great advances in the world of computers There’s even a day named in her honor to celebrate women’s achievements in science technology engineering and math All in good time though At that moment she was still only a month old Excuse me Ada here I’m the baby being stolen The thief is my mother Lady Annabella Byron and she is not a common criminal Well this was how your mother liked to tell the story Yes but she believed she was saving me from my dreadful father who gave an altogether different account of the event
Hmm your mom and dad were quite erm interesting weren’t they Maybe we should start by talking about them Oh my wretched family Very well Start a new chapter and tell everyone about them But brace yourselves It won’t be pretty 5
Byron Family Tree William Byron 4th Lord Byron Surprisingly little scandal William Byron 5th Lord Byron a k a The Wicked Lord Killed his cousin in an argument about grouse shooting Spent all his money so his son wouldn’t inherit it Murderer Vice-Admiral John Byron a k a Foul-Weather Jack Naval officer and adventurer Almost started a war by claiming possession of the Falkland Islands which the Spanish said belonged to them Oops You rascal William Byron MP Racked up gambling debts and expected his dad to pay them Ditched a rich bride to run off with his cousin Then died before his dad so the Byron title went to his cousin George Captain John Byron Gordon a k a Mad Jack Blew all his money on wild living Married two rich women and spent all their money Had to take a new surname Gordon in one marriage deal Left 22,000 debt 44 million today to his son George Just lend me a few thousand Dad Lovely cash Poetry is such agony George Gordon Byron 6th Lord Byron Violent temper Abused drugs and alcohol Debts forced him into marriage with a rich woman Unfaithful husband had girlfriends and boyfriends while he was married World-famous poet Ada Byron And I’m the only woman The men had wives and mothers but only they could be this awful because they were in charge
1 AdA’s Awful Ancestors Ada’s father George Gordon was the sixth Lord Byron let’s just call him Byron for short He came from a long line of drunkards addicts gamblers and murderers He carried on the family theme of wild danger ous living even though he didn’t have any money before he got married He liked to throw parties for his friends at the family home Newstead Abbey Abbey in Nottinghamshire Newstead had once been a monastery and it’s said Byron liked to drink his wine out of a cup made from an old skull found in the monks graveyard Ew Byron started writing poetry at the age of fourteen and in 1812 when he was twenty-four he published the first half of his epic poem Childe Pilgrimage it Harold’s sold out in just three days Byron became a superstar over night In those days he was about as cool as a YouTuber with fifty million followers As he said himself I awoke one morning and found myself famous I have a good head for drinks Me too mate 7
