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BENJAMIN BANNEKER (1731-1806) Mathematician -
Inventor
Benjamin Banneker was a mathematician and inventor in an age when some individuals thought that black people were not capable of intelligence. Benjamin Banneker showed the heights to which a black person could rise if given the opportunity. Born a free man in Elliott Mills, Maryland, he displayed a genius very early in life. Benjamin Banneker's genius
lay in the fields of mathematics, astronomy, and mechanical
invention. While still a youth, he built a wooden clock that kept
accurate time for the remainder of his life. This clock was probably
the first made entirely in the United States. Devoted to the study
of astronomy, Banneker spent most nights wrapped in a blanket,
studying the stars until sunrise. His days were dedicated to the
study in mathematics. In mathematics Banneker was self-taught. He
did not read his first mathematics text until he was in his forties.
In an effort to help others understand his scientific and
mathematical learning, he published an almanac for more than a
decade.
For Benjamin Banneker,
slavery was a major concern. Although born free himself, he never
lost his concern for those who were not. He corresponded with Thomas
Jefferson ( Historic Monticello) about the slavery issue. Though Banneker did not
live to see the end of slavery, he did set in motion a force that
liberated others.
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