Who was Benjamin Banneker and what did he do?
Benjamin Banneker was a largely self-educated mathematician, astronomer, compiler of almanacs and writer. Benjamin Banneker was born on November 9, 1731, in Ellicott’s Mills, Maryland. A free black man who owned a farm near Baltimore, Banneker was largely self-educated in astronomy and mathematics.
When did Benjamin Banneker move to Baltimore County?
After his father died in 1759, Banneker lived with his mother and sisters. In 1768, he signed a Baltimore County petition to move the county seat from Joppa to Baltimore.
Where did Andrew Ellicott and Benjamin Banneker live?
In addition, Andrew Ellicott’s younger brothers, Benjamin and Joseph Ellicott, who usually assisted Andrew, were able to join the survey at that time. Banneker therefore returned to his home near Ellicott’s Mills.
When did Benjamin Banneker write the declaration of Independence?
On August 19, 1791, after departing the federal capital area, Banneker wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson, who in 1776 had drafted the United States Declaration of Independence and in 1791 was serving as the United States Secretary of State (see: List of Secretaries of State of the United States).
How long did Benjamin Banneker work for Ellicott?
However, due to a sudden illness, Banneker was only able to work for Ellicott for about three months. Banneker’s true acclaim, however, came from his almanacs, which he published for six consecutive years during the later years of his life, between 1792 and 1797.
Why did Benjamin Banneker publish the Jefferson letter?
Banneker published Jefferson’s letter alongside his original piece of correspondence in his 1793 almanac. Banneker’s outspokenness with regard to the issue of slavery earned him the widespread support of the abolitionist societies in Maryland and Pennsylvania, both of which helped him publish his almanac.
Though Banneker hosted many visitors who came to see the clock, it took him years to find an intellectual community. In 1771, the Ellicotts, a Quaker family from Pennsylvania, moved to Baltimore County and established a gristmill just a few miles down the road from Banneker’s tobacco farm. 6