Babbage’s brain is on display in London

At his London residence on October 18, 1871, Charles Babbage passed away. Babbage, who is known as the "father of the computer," is credited with developing the first mechanical computer, which paved the way for later, more intricate systems. Babbage made the decision to donate his brain to science after his passing. His son Henry stated in a letter that was included with the donation: "I have no objection...to the notion of keeping the brain." So, please, take the action you think is best. The intellect should be acknowledged as his, and it should be used in whatever way you deem best for the improvement of human knowledge and the welfare of the race.

The Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons in London houses the remaining half of Babbage's brain, which is on display at the Science Museum in the same city. The 1909 article presented here includes a number of images of the actual brain in addition to a marvelously in-depth discussion of the brain and a beautifully dizzying amount of scientific terminology.