Benjamin Banneker

Benjamin Banneker (November 9, 1731 – October 9, 1806) was a free African American almanac author, surveyor, naturalist and farmer.[2]

Benjamin Banneker
Benjamin Banneker mural cropped.tif
Library of Congress
Banneker depicted on a 1943 mural by Maxine Merlino in the Recorder of Deeds Building in Washington, D.C. (2010)[1]
BornNovember 9, 1731
DiedOctober 19, 1806(1806-10-19) (aged 74)
Oella, Baltimore County, Maryland, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Other namesBenjamin Bannaker
Occupationalmanac author, surveyor, farmer
Parents
  • Robert (father)
  • Mary Banneky (mother)

Early life

Benjamin Banneker was born on November 9, 1731 in Baltimore County, Maryland. His parents are Mary Banneky, a free black, and Robert, a freed slave from Guinea.[3][4][5]

In 1788, a man named George Ellicott loaned Banneker books and equipment to study astronomy more formally.[6][7][8] Banneker sent George his work calculating a solar eclipse the following year.[6][9]

Benjamin Banneker Media

References

  1. (1) Cropped image extracted from Highsmith, Carol M. (photographer). ""Benjamin Banneker: Surveyor-Inventor-Astronomer", mural by Maxime Seelbinder, at the Recorder of Deeds building, built in 1943. 515 D St., NW, Washington, D.C." (photograph). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. Archived from the original on November 1, 2017. Retrieved 2017-11-05.
    (2) "Recorder of Deeds Building: Seelbinder Mural – Washington DC". The Living New Deal. Archived from the original on January 11, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2020..
    (3) Norfleet, Nicole (2010-03-11). "D.C. Recorder of Deeds moving but fate of murals unclear". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. Archived from the original on October 3, 2016. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
    (4) Sefton, D. P., DC Preservation League, Washington, D.C. (2010-07-01). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Recorder of Deeds Building" (PDF). Washington, D.C: District of Columbia Office of Planning. pp. 18–19. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 5, 2016. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
  2. "Benjamin Banneker". Biography.com. 2015. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  3. "Benjamin Banneker Biography". Encyclopedia of World Biography. (2017). Advameg, Inc.. 
  4. ""Robert Bannaky" marker". HMdb: The Historical Marker Database. Archived from the original on 2011-03-03. Retrieved 2015-09-06.
  5. Bedini, 2008 Archived 2016-02-03 at the Wayback Machine
  6. 6.0 6.1 "Glawe". February 13, 2014. Archived from the original on August 18, 2015. Retrieved 2015-08-18.
  7. "Catonsville, MD – Oella – Benjamin Banneker's Historical Park & Museum – Time Line". May 31, 2010. Archived from the original on May 31, 2010.
  8. (1) Bedini, 1969, p. 8.
    (2) Bedini, 1999, pp. 81–87; p. 371, references 3, 4, 5; p. 382, reference 12.
    (3) Arnold, Melissa (January 2, 2001). "Ellicotts, Banneker found common ground in science". The Baltimore Sun. https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2001-01-02-0101020178-story.html. Retrieved January 23, 2021. 
    (4) McHenry, p. 186. "It is about three years since mr. George Ellicott lent him Mayer's tables, Ferguson's astronomy, Leadbeater's lunar tables and some astronomical instruments, but without accompanying them with either hint or instruction, that might further his studies, or lead him to apply them to any useful result. These books and instruments, the first of the kind that he had ever seen, opened a new world to Benjamin, and from thence forward he employed his leisure in astronomical researches."
    (5) Mayer, Tobias (1770). Maskelyne, Nevil (ed.). New and correct tables of the motions of the sun and moon (in Latina and English). London: William and John Richardson: Sold by John Nourse, John Mount and Thomas Page. OCLC 981762891. Retrieved June 22, 2020 – via Google Books.
    (6) Ferguson, James (1756). Astronomy Explained Upon Sir Isaac Newton's Principles,: And Made Easy to Those who Have Not Studied Mathematics. London: Printed for, and sold by the author, at the Globe, opposite Cecil-street in the Strand. LCCN ltf91075548. OCLC 55560074. Retrieved June 22, 2020 – via Google Books.
    (7) Leadbetter, Charles (1742). A Compleat System of Astronomy (2nd ed.). London: J. Wilcox. LCCN 45046785. OCLC 822001557. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  9. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Williams387.