Benjamin Babbage
Born: 1752, Totnes, Devon
Died: 1827
Charles father, Benjamin Babbage was born in Devon the son of a goldsmith in 1752. He eventually moved to London to advance his career as a banker. Benjamin was hard working and successful and eventually became a partner in Praeds London bank. The ever cautious Benjamin waited until he had considerable wealth before marrying Elizabeth (Betsy) Plumleigh Teape in 1790. Betsy was also from an old well established Totnes family. Charles was born a year later in 1791. The family eventually relocated from London back to Devon and Benjamin became the warden of the nearby church of St. Michael.
Due to his father's wealth Charles was able to be schooled from several elite establishments during his early years. When Charles was eight he was moved to a country school after suffering from a life threatening fever. His father felt it important that," His brain was not taxed too much" for fear that this would have a damaging effect on his fragile health. Babbage later wrote that, " ...this great idleness may have led to some of my childish reasonings." Charles's fascination for experimentation was aptly demonstrated when as a boy he nearly drowned trying to walk on water with a contraption he had created after hearing a sermon relating to the Bible's miracles.
Charles Babbage and his father seemed to have clashed over many issues during Benjamin's lifetime, this is most evident after Charles married Georgiana Whitmore in 1814. The union was not viewed as suitable by Benjamin for both social and financial reasons. The rift between the two is most evident in Babbage's letters to his mother where his verbal attacks towards his father are ferocious. Benjamin Babbage no doubt recognized his son's intellect but like many people of the time did not see the benefits of pursuing mathematics and invention as a career.
As Babbage moved into middle age the more his character began to resemble that of the father he so despised. Both men hard working, ambitious, stubborn and principled with an excessive hatred of street musicians. In many ways Charles' relationship with his father may well have been the root of his aversion towards men in positions of authority. In Charles' early years what may have manifested itself as charismatic rebelliousness eventually, to his detriment, descended into arrogant bloody mindedness in the face of the establishment.
Charles father died in 1827 the same year as his wife Georgiana. Despite eventually being on speaking terms the two men never did completely resolve their differences. Benjamin Babbage amended his will just before his death leaving Charles s much of his wealth, this would allow him the luxury to fund much of his work.
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