1-152-869 - Ann Ronan Picture Library/Heritage-Images

Charles Babbage's proposed design for a diving bell, 1855. English mathematician and inventor Charles Babbage designed this diving bell to be used by divers placing charges to blow up wrecks. He is better known for his calculating machines, the 'Difference Engine' and the 'Analytical Engine', which were the forerunners of modern computers. It is for this reason that he is said to be the 'father' of computing. However, lack of funding meant his engines were not fully constructed during his lifetime.