Benjamin Banneker
On November 9 1731, Benjamin Banneker was born in Ellicott's Mills, Maryland. He was the descendent of slaves, however, Banneker was born a freeman.
Benjamin Banneker was educated by Quakers, however, most of his education was self-taught. Banneker was a self-educated scientist, astronomer, inventor, writer, and antislavery publicist. He built one of the first watches made in America, a wooden pocket watch in 1753.
Twenty years after he made the first watch, Banneker began making astronomical calculations that enabled him to successfully forecast a 1789 solar eclipse. His estimate made well in advance of the celestial event, contradicted predictions of better-known mathematicians and astronomers.
Banneker is best known for his six annual Farmers' Almanacs published between 1792 and 1797. In his free time, Banneker began compiling the Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia Almanac and Ephemeris. The almanacs included information on medicines and medical treatment, and listed tides, astronomical information, and eclipses, all calculated by Banneker himself.
On August 19 1791, Banneker sent a copy of his first almanac to secretary of state Thomas Jefferson. In an enclosed letter, he questioned the slaveholder's sincerity as a "friend to liberty." He urged Jefferson to help get rid of "absurd and false ideas" that one race is superior to another.
He passed away on October 25, 1806. He was one of the first African Americans to gain distinction in science.
HUSL Today Salutes Benjamin Banneker!!!
Sidenote: He gets an extra special hip hip hooray because he shares a birthday with my mother. Hi Mommy! *waves* Speaking of birthdays, today is a celebration of life for one of my favorite girls T-Flu. Happy Birthday!!
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