- Benjamin was born on Nov. 9, 1731 to free parents in Maryland. His grandmother was white and had come to America as an indentured servant. She taught him to read.
- As a teenager, a Quaker friend gave him access to his personal library and Benjamin occasionally attended his school. He concentrated on teaching himself astronomy and advanced math. Much of his astronomical knowledge came from observing the stars.
- He borrowed a pocket watch and made detailed drawings of the insides. He then built a wooden clock that worked accurately for forty years. He may have built the first wooden clock in America.
- He accurately predicted a solar eclipse in 1789, contradicting many experts.
- From 1792-97, he published a series of almanacs. They contained astronomical observations, opinion pieces, literature, and tidal and medical information. He wrote a letter to Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson which contained a hand-written copy of the first almanac. He also dared to criticize Jefferson for owning slaves. Jefferson wrote back complimenting Banneker for his achievements.
- He wrote dissertations on bees and the life cycle of locusts.
- In 1791, he helped survey and map the new capital of Washington.
- During his funeral in 1806, a fire broke out that destroyed most of his personal property and his papers.
- He was honored with a postage stamp in 1980.
https://learnodo-newtonic.com/benjamin-banneker-facts
https://kids.kiddle.co/Benjamin_Banneker
https://www.ducksters.com/biography/scientists/benjaminbanneker.php
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