Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806)

Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806) Raised on a farm in Maryland, Benjamin Banneker wanted to learn everything he could about the world around him. After his grandmother taught him how to read the Bible, he ready any other book he could find. He taught himself literature, history, and math. When Banneker was in his 20s, he built a clock He had never seen one before – but he had seen a pocket watch. Using math ratios, he figured out how big each piece should be and then carved the gears and wheels from wood. It was so well made that it ran for over 50 years. While managing the family farm, Banneker learned how to play the flute and violin. He tended beehives, correctly predicted a solar eclipse in 1789, and answered any math problem he was given Banneker also helped President George Washington survey the land that would become Washington, DC, thus becoming the first black employee of the government.

A student of astronomy, Banneker published his discoveries about stars in a series of almanac. Thomas Jefferson loved Banneker’s work, and sent copies around the world for others to study. Banneker’s last years were spent on his family farm entertaining friends and other scientists. Highlight text taken from "Discover the Adventures & Achievements of 60 Great Black Americans!"