Benjiman banneker biography

Benjamin banneker family

We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. A free Black man who owned a farm near Baltimore, Benjamin Banneker was largely self-educated in astronomy and mathematics. The 18 th century intellectual used his knowledge to create a series of almanacs in the s. He also helped survey territory for the construction of the American capital city, Washington D.

An early civil rights advocate , Banneker exchanged letters with Thomas Jefferson , politely challenging the then-Secretary of State to do what he could to ensure racial equality. Banneker died at age 74 in October He was the son of an ex-slave named Robert and his wife, Mary Banneky.

What was benjamin banneker famous for

Mary was the daughter of an Englishwoman named Molly Welsh, a former indentured servant, and her husband, Bannka, an ex-slave whom she freed and who asserted that he came from tribal royalty in West Africa. Because both of his parents were free, Benjamin escaped the wrath of slavery as well. He was taught to read by his maternal grandmother and, for a very short time, attended a small Quaker school.

Primarily, Banneker was self-educated. He taught himself astronomy and accurately forecasted lunar and solar eclipses. One of his early accomplishments was constructing an irrigation system for the family farm. In , Banneker was inspired to build his own clock after receiving a watch from an acquaintance. Banneker deconstructed the watch to examine its components and how they worked.