8 Facts about Benjamin Banneker

Get the interesting facts about the free African American almanac author, surveyor, scientist, and farmer in Facts about Benjamin Banneker. He was born on 9th November 1731 in Baltimore County, Maryland. He was passed away on 9 October 1806. Since he only received little formal education, he studied himself.   His father was a former slaver, while his mother was a free American woman. Let me show you more interesting facts about Banneker below:

Facts about Benjamin Banneker 1: the fame

Banneker was famous as one of the surveyors of Major Andrew Ellicott’s group. His job was to survey the border of the District of Columbia.

Facts about Benjamin Banneker 2: astronomy

Banneker was a smart person even though he only got a little education. He could be an author and created series of almanacs. It was due to the fact that Banneker knew a lot about astronomy which enabled him to make the almanacs successfully. Get facts about astronomy here.

Benjamin Banneker Book

Facts about Benjamin Banneker 3: Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson was famous as the drafter of the United States Declaration of the Independence. He was considered as one of the founding fathers in US. Banneker and Jefferson corresponded each other. They talked a lot about racial equality and slavery.

Facts about Benjamin Banneker 4: the accounts

The accounts that Banneker had made during his life were very important even though many of them were destroyed due to the fire on his funeral. The people are still able to view his remaining accounts and artifacts. Find out another scientist in Antoine Lavoisier facts here.

Facts about Benjamin Banneker

Facts about Benjamin Banneker 5: the parents

His father was Robert. He was a freed slave from Guinea. His mother was a free black woman named Mary.

Facts about Benjamin Banneker 6: Peter Heinrichs

Peter Heinrichs was a Quaker who formed a school located nearby the Banneker farm. Banneker and Heinrichs made friends. The young Banneker was allowed to access the personal library of Heinrichs. He also tutored him in his classroom.

Benjamin Banneker Pic

Facts about Benjamin Banneker 7: a wooden clock

One of his notable works was the wooden clock that he made to strike the hour. He completed this clock in 1753. Banneker was only 22 years old at that time.

Facts about Benjamin Banneker 8: the Ellicott family

The Ellicott family was important people in the life of Banneker. They were the Quakers who also had the similar point of view to abolish slavery in US. In 1788, Banneker began to study astronomy after George Ellicott loaned him equipment and books about astronomy.

Benjamin Banneker Inventor

Benjamin Banneker Facts

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