The first computer was designed by Charles Babbage in the 19th century, though it wasn't built until 1991. Babbage is often called the "father of computers". 

Babbage's computer designs

Difference Engine

Started in 1822, this machine was intended to calculate polynomial functions. It would have had 25,000 parts, weighed 13,600 kg, and been 2.4 m tall. 

Analytical Engine

A general-purpose computing machine that could be programmed using punched cards. Babbage worked on it until his death in 1871. 

Other early computers

Z3: The first working, fully automatic, and programmable digital computer, developed in Germany between 1935 and 1941. 

ENIAC: The first electronic general-purpose digital computer, built in 1945. 

Micral N: The world's first “personal computer”, built in 1973. 

Altair 8800: The first device that could be called a personal computer, introduced in 1975. 

The first electronic digital computer built in India was the TIFRAC (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Automatic Calculator), commissioned in 1969.