What was the name of the professor who taught Ada Lovelace mathematics through correspondence?

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The professor who taught Ada Lovelace mathematics through correspondence was Augustus De Morgan.

De Morgan was a leading nineteenth-century mathematician and the first professor of mathematics at the University of London, now University College London. Around 1840 and 1841, he corresponded with Ada as she studied advanced mathematics, including algebra, calculus, differential equations, and related topics.

Their lessons were conducted by letter rather than in a conventional classroom. Ada sent questions and worked through difficult problems, while De Morgan provided explanations and guidance. His surviving correspondence shows that he took her mathematical ambitions seriously and recognised her unusual intellectual ability.

This relationship is sometimes confused with Ada’s other influential connections. Mary Somerville encouraged her scientific education and introduced her to Charles Babbage, while Babbage became her collaborator on the Analytical Engine. De Morgan’s role was specifically that of a mathematical tutor and correspondent. His instruction helped strengthen the technical foundation Ada later used when writing her celebrated notes on Babbage’s machine.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Aug. 2026

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