Who created the first computer algorithm and when was it made?

The first computer algorithm was created by Ada Lovelace, an English mathematician and writer, in the mid-19th century. Ada Lovelace is credited with writing the world's first published algorithm intended to be processed by a machine. She worked closely with Charles Babbage, an inventor and mathematician known as the "father of the computer," who designed the Analytical Engine, an early mechanical general-purpose computer.

In 1843, Ada Lovelace translated an article about the Analytical Engine by Italian engineer Luigi Menabrea and added extensive notes of her own. Her notes, particularly an algorithm for calculating Bernoulli numbers, included a step-by-step sequence of operations that is considered the first computer algorithm. Lovelace's contributions went beyond just a translation and reflected her understanding of the potential of the Analytical Engine as a general-purpose computing machine.

Ada Lovelace's work was significant as it envisioned the possibilities of computing beyond mere number crunching, recognizing the potential for computers to manipulate symbols and data beyond simple calculations. Her insights and concepts laid the groundwork for the development of modern computer programming. Ada Lovelace's contributions are celebrated today, and she is often recognized as the world's first computer programmer.