babbage, but he is considered to be the father of modern computing. Charles Babbage was an English mathematician, philosopher, inventor and mechanical engineer who lived in the 19th century. He is best known for inventing the first mechanical computer, which he called the Difference Engine. Babbage’s Difference Engine was the first machine to be able to calculate and print mathematical tables. He also designed the Analytical Engine, which was the first general-purpose computer. Babbage’s work laid the foundation for the development of modern computers and paved the way for the digital revolution.