Benjamin Banneker's Life And Accomplishments

“The color of the skin is in no way connected with strength of the mind or intellectual powers”. The words of wisdom from the intelligent Mathematician by the name of Benjamin Banneker. Benjamin Banneker was an African American almanac author and writer and farmer. He was born in Ellicott’s Mills, Maryland on November 9th, 1731. Benjamin was the first African-American to invent the first functioning clock. Benjamin was a self-educated black man who had known about math and astronomy which is a branch of science that deals with objects, space and the physical universe.

Banneker invented his first clock in 1753. It was made out of American Parts. People travel al across the world to see his wonderful invention. It was made from hand carved parts. And the clock struck for over 50 years. Unfortunately Banneker died on October 9th, 1806. His mother and his father by

the name of Robert Bannaky and wife Becky Bannaky. Because his parents were free. Benjamin escaped the wrath of slavery as well.
In Addition, Banneker originally started his invention by a friend of his watch, Josef Levi. He took the watch apart and began to observe and eventually made it apart of his studies. Banneker then carved pieces from the watch and used it to make a clock. The from then Benjamin Banneker began his own Business a watch and clock shop. He then began to clock struck every hour, and from then Banneker had become famous for his accomplishments. Down the road help Joseph Ellicott who was a mathematician and astronomer as well, and lent Benjamin Banneker a hand with books and more information on observing the stars.

He taught himself astronomy and Math, in 1773, then he had started to get more involved and more serious about astronomy and math. He made predictions about the solar of the sun the lunar or the moon. He then predicted the solar eclipse that had taken place on April 14th, 1789. In 1791 Banneker was not able to sell his observations, but those who had rejected did not stop his studies. When Banneker was about sixty years old he was recognized by President George Washington to a three man team of surveyors.
Banneker’s accomplishments included constructing, and irrigation system for the family farm.

Banneker ran his own farm after the death of his father. Turning in to a business that sell tobacco crops. Banneker’s talents came to the attention of George Ellicott’s family. Entrepreneurs who had made a name and money by building, a series of gristmills in the Baltimore area on the 1700’s. I didn’t mention before the George Ellicott had his own library to lend to Banneker.

Benjamin Banneker’s performance was never ending including the civil rights movement in 1791. Thomas Jefferson was secretary of state. Though a slave holder he wanted Thomas Jefferson to be more open about viewing African Americans. Banneker accomplished many things in the year of 1791. He had published his first almanac. He was never married before. In 1797, sales from his almanac was rejected, then he sold his almanac off to the Ellicott’s.

On October 9, 1806, after his usual morning walk, Banneker died in his sleep just a month from his 75th birthday. All that been loaned from his neighbor George Ellicott were returned by Banneker’s

nephew.

On Tuesday October 11, at the family burial ground a few miles from the house Benjamin Banneker was laid to rest During the services the people who were in sorrow were were startled to see his house had caught fire=and burned down very fast. Everything was destroyed including his personal belongings furniture and also the wooden clock. There was no exact cause of the fire
Benjamin’s life was remembered in an obituary in the Federal Gazette in Philadelphia and has be continued to be written for the two centuries. With limited materials having been preserved related to Banneker's life and career, there's been a fair amount of legend and misinformation presented. In 1972 Sylvia A. Bedini published a biography on The Life of Benjamin Banneker the First African American Man of Science. The revised edition was in 1999.
Banneker’s clock has been a huge influence on today’s society and over the years. Because we need clocks for numerous amount of things.