Sophia Elizabeth De Morgan

Sophia Elizabeth De Morgan (née Frend; 10 November 1809–5 January 1892) was an English spiritualist writer and activist. Early life She was the eldest child of William Frend and his wife Sarah Blackburne. Her upbringing in London was unusual, her father taking her everywhere with him from a young age, and instructing her in philosophy and Hebrew. George Dyer was a friend of the family, as was Charles Lamb who wrote Sophia an acrostic poem based on her name. In 1820 the family moved from Blackfriars to Stoke Newington. Anna Letitia Barbauld, in her mid-70s, was a neighbour of the Frends, and Sophia at age 11 took part in some of her taxing games. Ada Lovelace In 1828 Sophia began tutoring Ada Lovelace. Lady Byron, Ada's mother, took advice on her daughter's education from William Frend, and Ada was tutored also by William King and Arabella Lawrence, from about 1830. Sophia had to overcome reservations about Ada, whom she didn't like. The Frends moved back to central London—Tavistock Square—in 1831. Around 1832, Sophia expressed scepticism about a phrenological reading of Ada's head, by James De Ville, that had been arranged by her mother. In June 1833 Ada visited Charles Babbage and saw his difference engine, and Sophia reported that she had understood the principle of the machine. Sophia became a confidante of Lady Byron, on family matters.