Charles Babbage was born in London, England, to Benjamin Babbage, a banker, and Betsy Plumleigh Teape. His early life was marked by periods of illness and private tutoring, during which his mathematical talents began to emerge. His privileged background provided access to resources and education that fostered his intellectual curiosity.

Babbage entered Trinity College, Cambridge, where he found himself ahead of his tutors in mathematical knowledge. Dissatisfied with the level of mathematics education, he, along with John Herschel and George Peacock, founded the Analytical Society. This group aimed to introduce Leibnizian notation and continental calculus to British mathematics, which was still primarily using Newtonian notation. This demonstrates his early drive to reform and improve existing systems.