Benjamin Banneker



February 25, 2014

By: Carmella Cross
Benjamin Banneker born November 9,1731 he was born in Ellicott’s Mills, Md.. He was the son of ex-slave named Robert, whose wife Mary Banneker, was the daughter of an Englishwoman and an African ex-slave. He was taught to read by his white grandmother named Molly and for a short time he also attended a small Quaker school.

He was best know as Colonial African-American scientist and surveyor of was Washington, D.C.. Benjamin Banneker has been called the first African American intellectual. Benjamin was a free-born descendant of slaves who had became famous 18th-century astronomer, mathematician and surveyor. He was also considered by many to be the first African-American scientist. He taught himself astronomy and accurately forecast-ed lunar and solar eclipses.

Benjamin was raised on a tobacco farm in rural Maryland, where he attend school but was largely self-taught in the sciences. Although Benjamin worked most of his life as a farmer, his analytical and problem solving skills became legendary. Hie=s achievements were indeed impressive at the age of 24 he studied clockworks and constructed his own clock from wood. He taught himself astronomy and published a popular almanac, Benjamin Banneker’s Almanac from 1792 to 1797. These almanacs included his own astronomical calculations as well as opinion pieces, literature and medical and tidal information among other things. In 1791, Benjamin was technical assistant in the calculating and first ever surveying of the Federal District, which is now Washington, D.C.. He also published information on bees and calculated the cycle of the 17 year locust. Benjamin wrote the respected Virginian and attacked his pro-slavery stance. He criticized Thomas, a slave owner himself, for his “ absurd and false ideas” and urged him to recognize that “ one Universal Father afforded us all the same sensations and endowed us all with the same faculties.”
To me Benjamin Banneker was somebody I really didn’t now anything about that’s one reason why I choose to do this paper on because to me he was just a random person I know. The other reasons I picked him because after I read some of his biography it start to talked about how he manger to learn about science without having his own books and made do with old and dowered books. And how he mostly taught his self. In that he was the African American to make a clock made from wood. So that I why I choose Benjamin Banneker .
Benjamin Banneker died on Sunday, October 9,1806 at the age of 74. It was not until 1990 that the actual site of Banneker’s home, which burned on the day of his burial was determined. In 1980 the U.S. Postal Service issued a postage stamp in his honor.

References

Benjamin Banneker - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Benjamin Banneker's Life

Benjamin Banneker Biography - Facts, Birthday, Life Story