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Benjamin Banneker cartoon by Charles Alston, 1943.

Benjamin Banneker, originally Banna Ka, or Bannakay (November 9, 1731–October 9, 1806) was a free African American mathematician, astronomer, clockmaker, and publisher. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1200x1177, 525 KB)Benjamin Banneker cartoon, 1943 Drawing by Charles Alston. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1200x1177, 525 KB)Benjamin Banneker cartoon, 1943 Drawing by Charles Alston. ... Charles Alston (November 28, 1907 _ April 27, 1977) was a teacher and artist. ... is the 313th day of the year (314th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events 10 Downing Street becomes the official residence of the United Kingdoms Prime Minister when Robert Walpole moves in. ... is the 282nd day of the year (283rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1806 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... An astronomer or astrophysicist is a person whose area of interest is astronomy or astrophysics. ... For other uses, see Clock (disambiguation). ... A publisher is a person or entity which engages in the act of publishing. ...

Family history

Banneker's mother was Mary Bannaky (1710–?). Oral tradition states that her mother was a European American named Molly Walsh, who was supposedly accused of stealing a pail of milk and sent from England to the colonies as punishment. The story goes that Molly became the owner of a farm and married one of her slaves named Bannakay, whom she freed. They had four girls and Mary was the oldest. // Events April 10 - The worlds first copyright legislation became effective, Britains Statute of Anne Ongoing events Great Northern War (1700-1721) War of the Spanish Succession (1702-1713) Births January 3 - Richard Gridley, American Revolutionary soldier (d. ... European American is a term for an American of European descent, who are usually referred as White or Caucasian. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Betsy Ross purportedly sewed the first American flag with 13 stars and 13 stripes representing each of the 13 colonies. ...

Benjamin's father, Robert Banna Ka, was a former slave who had built a series of dams and watercourses that successfully irrigated the family farm at Ellicott's Mills, where Benjamin lived most of his life. Benjamin 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. This article is about structures for water impoundment. ... Irrigation is the artificial application of water to the soil usually for assisting in growing crops. ... For other uses, see Farm (disambiguation). ... Main Street, Ellicott City Ellicott City is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Howard County, Maryland, United States. ... The Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as Quakers, or Friends, is a religious community founded in England in the 17th century. ...

Clockmaking

At 21, Banneker saw a pocket watch that was owned by Andrew Ellicott. He was so amazed by it that Ellicott 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 50 years. Andrew Ellicott on a miniature portrait from 1799. ...

This event changed his life, and he became a watch and clockmaker. One customer was Joseph Ellicott, a Quaker surveyor, who needed an extremely accurate timepiece to make correct calculations of the locations of stars. Ellicott was so impressed with his work that he lent him books on mathematics and astronomy. Joseph Ellicott Joseph Ellicott (November 1, 1760 - August 19, 1826) was a surveyor, city planner, land office agent, canal commissioner and judge born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, of the Quaker faith. ... Surveyor at work with a leveling instrument. ... This article is about the astronomical object. ... For other meanings of mathematics or uses of math and maths, see Mathematics (disambiguation) and Math (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Astronomy (disambiguation). ...

Astronomy

Banneker began his solo 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 an anti-slavery society published from 1792 through 1797. He became known as the Sable Astronomer. Photo taken during the 1999 eclipse. ... Time lapse movie of the 3 March 2007 lunar eclipse A lunar eclipse occurs whenever the Moon passes through some portion of the Earth’s shadow. ... This article is about astronomical eclipses. ... An ephemeris (plural: ephemerides) (from the Greek word ephemeros = daily) is a device giving the positions of astronomical objects in the sky. ... 1792 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1797 (MDCCXCVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 11-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

Life

In early 1791, Andrew Ellicott hired Banneker to assist in a survey of the boundaries of the future 100 square-mile District of Columbia, which was to contain the federal capital city (the city of Washington) in the portion of the District that was northeast of the Potomac River. Because of illness and the difficulties in helping to survey at the age of 59 an extensive area that was largely wilderness, Banneker left the boundary survey in April, 1791, and returned to his home at Ellicott Mills to work on his ephemeris.^[1] 1791 (MDCCXCI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 11-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Andrew Ellicott on a miniature portrait from 1799. ... This is a list of the locations of the original boundary markers of the District of Columbia. ... For other uses, see Washington, D.C. (disambiguation). ... The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States (USA). ...

A popular urban legend erroneously describes Banneker's activities after he left the boundary survey. In 1792, President George Washington accepted the resignation of the French-American Peter (Pierre) Charles L'Enfant, who had drawn the first plans for the city of Washington but had quit out of frustration with his superiors. According to the legend, L'Enfant took his plans with him, leaving no copies behind. 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 presumably photographic memory then provided the basis for the later construction of the federal capital city. An urban legend or urban myth is similar to a modern folklore consisting of stories often thought to be factual by those circulating them. ... 1792 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799)[1] led Americas Continental Army to victory over Britain in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and in 1789 was elected the first President of the United States of America. ... Pierre Charles LEnfant ( 2 August 1754 – 14 June 1825) designed the street plan of the Federal City in the United States, now known as Washington, DC. Born in France, he came to the American colonies as a military engineer with General Lafayette and became closely identified with the...

However, the legend cannot be correct. President Washington and others, including Andrew Ellicott (who, after completing the boundary survey had begun a survey of the federal city in accordance with L'Enfant's plan), also possessed copies of various versions of the plan that L'Enfant had prepared, one of which L'Enfant had sent out for printing.^[2] The U.S. Library of Congress presently owns a copy of a plan for the federal city that bears the adopted name of the plan's author, "Peter Charles L'Enfant".^[3] Furthermore, Banneker left the federal capital area and returned to Ellicott Mills in early 1791, while L'Enfant was still refining his plans for the capital city as part of his federal employment.^{[4] [5]} Construction of the Thomas Jefferson Building, from July 8, 1888 to May 15, 1894. ...

After departing the federal capital area, Banneker expressed a vision of social justice and equity that he wished to be adhered to in the everyday fabric of American life. He wrote to the Secretary of State and author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, a plea for justice for African Americans, calling on the colonists' personal experience as "slaves" of Britain and quoting Jefferson's own words. To support his plea, Banneker included a copy of his newly published ephemeris with its astronomical calculations. Jefferson replied to Banneker less than two weeks later in a 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. Benjamin died on October 9, 1806 at age 74 in his log cabin. He never married. In several countries, Secretary of State is a senior government position. ... For other uses, see Author (disambiguation). ... The United States Declaration of Independence was an act of the Second Continental Congress, adopted on July 4, 1776, which declared that the Thirteen Colonies in North America were Free and Independent States and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to... Thomas Jefferson (13 April 1743 N.S.–4 July 1826) was the third President of the United States (1801–09), the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776), and one of the most influential Founding Fathers for his promotion of the ideals of Republicanism in the United States. ... is the 282nd day of the year (283rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1806 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

Following a life journey that would be echoed by others after him including Martin Luther King Jr., and, being largely supported by European Americans who promoted racial equality and an end to racial discrimination, Banneker spent the early years of his advocacy efforts arguing specifically for the rights of American Blacks, but turned in his 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. Several pages of Banneker's almanac outlined a Department of Peace, testifying to his ethical positions and to the need to balance a Department of War with a Department of Peace dedicated to promoting the de-escalation of national and international conflict. Martin Luther King, Jr. ... Manifestations Slavery Racial profiling Lynching Hate speech Hate crime Genocide (examples) Ethnocide Ethnic cleansing Pogrom Race war Religious persecution Gay bashing Blood libel Paternalism Police brutality Movements Policies Discriminatory Race / Religion / Sex segregation Apartheid Redlining Internment Anti-discriminatory Emancipation Civil rights Desegregation Integration Equal opportunity Counter-discriminatory Affirmative action Racial...

Benjamin Banneker Park and Memorial, Washington, D.C.

A small urban park memorializing Benjamin Banneker is located at a prominent overlook (Banneker Circle) at the south end of L'Enfant Promenade in southwest Washington, D.C., a half mile south of the Smithsonian Institution's "Castle" on the National Mall. Although the National Park Service administers the park, the Government of the District of Columbia owns the park's site. The park, which was constructed in 1970, is now stop number 8 on Washington's Southwest Heritage Trail. ^[6] In 2004, the D.C. Preservation League listed the park as one of the most endangered places in the District of Columbia. ^[7] The Washington Interdependence Council is presently planning to construct a monumental memorial to Banneker at or near the site of the park. On October 26, 2006, the Council held a charrette during which a panel of judges evaluated five sculptors' proposals, one of which may become the basis of the monument.^[8] The winning design was to be revealed on November 30, 2006. A child running in a urban park An urban park, also known as a municipal park, is a park that is built in cities and other incorporated places to offer recreation and green space to residents of and visitors to the municipality. ... “Miles” redirects here. ... The Smithsonian Institution Building or Castle on the National Mall serves as the Institutions headquarters. ... For other uses, see Castle (disambiguation). ... Facing east across the Mall with ones back towards the Lincoln Memorial. ... The National Park Service (NPS) is the United States federal agency that manages all National Parks, many National Monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations. ... For other uses, see Washington, D.C. (disambiguation). ... Year 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A charrette (pronounced [shuh-ret], often misspelled charette and sometimes called a design charrette) consists of an intense period of design activity. ... is the 334th day of the year (335th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Letter to Thomas Jefferson on racism

"How pitiable it is that although you are so fully convinced of the goodness of the Father of mankind you should go against His will by detaining, by fraud and violence, so many of my brothers under groaning captivity and oppression; that you should at the same time be guilty of the most criminal act which you detest in others."

Trivia

• Although he is said to be the inventor of the first clock in America and to have made the plans of Washington D.C., this is denied in one of the only biographies of Banneker The Life Of Benjamin Banneker by Silvio Bedini.^[9]

References

A more complete biography. The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) is a government agency that provides planning guidance for Washington, D.C. and the surrounding communities. ...

Benjamin Banneker: Surveyor, Astronomer, Publisher, Patriot By Charles A. Cerami (New York: John Wiley and Sons, 2002) http://www.nathanielturner.com/benbanneker2.htm

External links

• Benjamin Banneker's Trigonometry Puzzle at Convergence
• More of Benjamin Banneker's Mathematical Puzzles at Convergence
• Benjamin Banneker Historical Park & Museum
• Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum: location, hours, facilities information
• Benjamin Banneker's biography
• O'Connor, John J; Edmund F. Robertson "Benjamin Banneker". MacTutor History of Mathematics archive.  
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