- Per Georg Scheutz
Pehr Georg Scheutz (
September 23 1785 –May 22 1873 ) was a 19th-century Swedish lawyer, translator, and inventor, who is best known for his pioneering work in computer technology.Scheutz studied law at
Lund University , graduating in 1805. He then worked as a legal expert andtranslator (he translated several works ofWilliam Shakespeare ) before turning predominantly topolitics andmechanical engineering .He is most known for his inventions; the best known of these is the Scheutzian calculation engine, invented in 1837 and finalized in 1843. This machine, which he constructed with his son Edvard Scheutz, was based on
Charles Babbage 'sdifference engine . An improved model, roughly the size of a piano, was created in 1853 and subsequently demonstrated at theWorld's Fair inParis , 1855. The machine was then sold to the British government in 1859. Scheutz created yet another machine in 1860, selling it to theUnited States . The devices were used for creatinglogarithm ic tables.While the machine was not perfect and could not produce complete tables,
Martin Wiberg reworked the construction from the ground up and in 1875 created a compact device which would print complete tables.ee also
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Difference engine
*Martin Wiberg
*Timeline of computing 750 BC-1949 [hu:Per Georg
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