Today is...the first day of finals week

Today is the first day of finals week. As a break from studying, enjoy some fun facts!

December 10, 1815, Ada Lovelace, commonly considered the first computer programmer, was born.

Lovelace worked with Charles Babbage on his Analytical Engine and Difference Engine, both precursors to the modern day computer.

Lovelace was the only legitimate child of poet Lord Byron.

Lord Byron had a daughter with Claire Clairmont, the stepsister of Mary Shelley, who is best known for her Gothic novel Frankenstein.

Gothic fiction, or Gothic horror, has its origins attributed to Horace Walpole's work The Castle of Otranto, subtitled "A Gothic Story".

Horace Walpole was the son of Robert Walpole, the de facto first Prime Minister of Great Britain.

Walpole Massachusetts is named after Robert Walpole.

Walpole, Mass was first settled in 1659 and was considered part of Dedham, Mass until 1724.

Dedham is the home to the Fairbanks House, the oldest survivng timber-frame house in North America. It was built ca. 1637 and is the oldest building in Massachusetts.

The oldest building in the world is the Tumulus of Bougon, a complex of tombs in France that date to 4800 BC.

The oldest house in the world is Knap of Howar in Scotland, built in 3700 BC. It is on the Island of Pap Westray, one of the Orkney Islands.

Orkney is an archipelago of approximately 70 islands, of which 20 are inhabited. They have at various times been occupied by the Mesolithic tribes, the Neolithic tribes, the Picts, an the Norse.

Orkney was given to Scotland as security until the dowry of Margaret of Denmark in her marriage to James III of Scotland.

Their son, James IV, married Margaret Tudor, daughter of Henry VII of England.

Henry VII was the first monarch of House of Tudor, after seizing the crown on August 22, 1485.

The final sovereign of the House of Tudor was Queen Elizabeth I.

Are you prepared for finals?