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Benjamin Banneker, originally Banna Ka, or Bannakay (November 9, 1731–October 9, 1806) was an African American mathematician, astronomer, clockmaker, urban planner and publisher.
Benjamin Banneker's mother was Mary Bannakay, whose mother, Molly Welsh, was accused of stealing milk and sent from England to the colonies as punishment. She became the owner of a farm and married one of her slaves, whom she freed.
Benjamin's father, Robert Bannakay, built a series of dams and watercourses that successfully irrigated the family farm, where Banneker lived most of his life. Banneker was taught to read and do simple arithmetic by his grandmother and by a Quaker schoolmaster, who changed his name to Banneker. Once he was old enough to help on his parents' farm, his formal education ended.
At 21, Banneker saw a pocket watch that was owned by a traveling salesman named Josef Levi. He was so fascinated by it that Levi gave it to him. Banneker spent days taking it apart and reassembling it. From it Banneker then carved large-scale wooden replicas of each piece, calculating the gear assemblies himself, and used the parts to make a striking clock. The clock continued to work, striking each hour, for more than 40 years.
This event changed his life, and he became a watch and clock maker. One customer was Joseph Ellicott, a surveyor, who needed a very accurate timepiece to make correct calculations of the locations of stars. Ellicott was impressed with his work and lent him books on mathematics and astronomy.
Banneker began his study of astronomy at age 58. He was able to make the calculations to predict solar and lunar eclipses and to compile an ephemeris for the Benjamin Banneker's Almanac, which he published from 1792 through 1797. He became known as the Sable Astronomer.
In 1791, he was hired by George Washington to work with brothers Andrew and Joseph Ellicott and French architect Pierre L'Enfant to survey the Federal District for the design and lay out of the new capital of the United States. It was a six-man team. There is a historical dispute regarding the facts of the original plans for the federal district of Washington. L'Enfant is reported to have been fired, but many suggest he quit out of frustration over the early incarnations of bureacratic interference with the foreign architect's plans. The chief architect of Washington left the city at the bitter end of a tumultuous engagement with the young capitol and took the plans for its futre build out along with him. As the story is told, Banneker spent two days recreating the bulk of the city plans from memory. The plans that Banneker drew from his photographic memory provided the basis for proceeding with the municipal construction of Washington D.C.'s federal district. Although there are disputes regarding the accuracy of this version of events (others suggest Banneker simply worked in tandem with other members of the team to reproduce the drawings over a lengthy period of time), the accomplishments of Banneker throughout his lifetime certainly do indicate that he had the capacity to succeed in such a challenging recreation of detailed renderings. Whatever the exact extent of Banneker's work on the nation's capitol it remains certain that Banneker participated in the design of Washington as a vital member of the small planning team charged with creating a vision for the nation's political power center. Acting on the planning team at the request of president George Washington, Banneker has the distinction of being the first Black presidential appointee in the history of America.
Banneker designed the streets of early America while contemplating the stars and eloquently expressing a vision of social justice and equity to be adhered to in the everyday fabric of American life. In 1791, Banneker wrote to Secretary of State, and author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson with an eloquent plea for justice for African Americans, calling on the colonists' personal experience as "slaves" of Britain and quoting Jefferson's own words. As a clear indication of the capabilities of his people, Banneker included a copy of his newly published almanac with its astronomical calculations. Jefferson replied to Banneker less than two weeks later in a poignant and revealing series of statements asserting his own interest in the advancement of the equality of America's Black population. Jefferson also forwarded a copy of Banneker's Almanac to the French Academy of Sciences in Paris. It was also used in Britain's House of Commons.
Following a life journey that would be echoed by great leaders after him including Martin Luther King Jr., Benjamin Banneker spent the early years of his advocacy efforts arguing specifically for the rights of American Blacks and turning in the later years to an argument for the peaceful equality of all mankind. In 1792, Banneker included in his Almanac, a plan for the creation of a new Department in the American federal government. A Department of Peace, was outlined in several pages of Banneker's almanac, testifying to his ethical positions and his visionary grasp of the need to balance a Department of War with a Department of Peace dedicated to promoting the de-escalation of national and international conflict. Banneker's lifelong pursuit of knowledge has left a brilliant trail of astronomical and practical illuminations.
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American astronomers | Surveyors | 1731 births | 1806 deaths | African Americans | African American scientists | African American inventors | People from Baltimore
"Benjamin Banneker"