What is Benjamin Herschel Babbage?
[[File:Benjamin Babbage.jpg|thumb|220px|Benjamin Babbage]] '''Benjamin Herschel Babbage''' (1815—1878) was an [[English people|English]] [[scientist]], [[engineer]] and [[explorer]].<ref name=adb>{{cite book |url= http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs/A030066b.htm |title=Babbage, Benjamin Herschel (1815 - 1878) |first= G.W.|last=Symes|work=Australian Dictionary of Biography Online |year=1969 |access-date=17 June 2011}}</ref> Babbage was the son of the famous [[mathematician]], [[Charles Babbage]]. He went to [[South Australia]] to map the [[geography]] and the location of [[mineral]]s. Babbage was very thorough, and spent a lot of time making sure that his information was correct.<ref name=adb/> He carried a lot of equipment, as well as four and half [[tonne]]s of food, enough to last 18 months in the [[desert]].<ref name=bailey>{{cite book | last =Bailey | first = John| title =Mr. Stuart's Track: the forgotten life of Australia's greatest explorer | publisher =Macmillan | date =2006 | location =[[Sydney]], Australia | page =10 | isbn =9781405037303 }}</ref> Among his supplies he had 20 [[kilogram]]s of chocolate and 5000 [[litre]]s of water.<ref name=bailey/> He also took a flock of 150 sheep, which limited the speed the group could move.<ref name=bailey/> The government became frustrated with Babbage's slow progress, they wanted to know about possible farm lands and valuable minerals as soon as possible.<ref name=adb/> Eventually Babbage was removed from the job and replaced by Major [[Peter Warburton]].<ref name=adb/> Babbage later helped on the planning for the [[Australian Overland Telegraph Line]].<ref name=adb/> He was interested in growing grapes and retired to his large vineyard at [[St.Marys, South Australia|St.Marys]]. He died on 20 October 1878, and is buried at St.Marys.<ref name=adb/> ==References== {{reflist}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Babbage, Benjamin}} [[Category:1815 births]] [[Category:1878 deaths]] [[Category:Exploration of Australia]] [[Category:People from South Australia]] [[Category:English explorer