So Babbage, the guy who is best known for starting work on the first mechanical computer but dying before completing it, is a heartwarming example?
If he'd started at 20, he would have finished it.
If he'd started at 20, he would have finished it.
What we know today as computer is probably far from what he imagined.
In 1810 aged 19 he started University at Trinity, Cambridge. In 1812 aged 22, disappointed with the level of mathematical tutorage formed the Analytical Society, translating Lacroix' works on differential and integral calculus into English. He transferred to Peterhouse and they gave him a degree without him even having to sit an exam.
He also got married during this time. 10 years later his wife and 5 of his 8 children were dead.
And he stood up again and invented a fucking programmable computer made out of wheels!!
I think I can cut him a bit of slack.