Benjamin Banneker

1. Benjamin Banneker By: Brittan Joyner

2. Benjamin Banneker – Quick Facts • Born on November 9, 1731 in Ellicott's Mills, Maryland. • He was a free African American. His father and grandfather were slaves. • He was a Black mathematician, astronomer, clockmaker and publisher. • He never finished school. • He designed and constructed the first wooden clock in America. • Benjamin loved music and even played the violin. • From 1792 to 1802, Benjamin wrote a series of annual almanacs that were widely read. • He was named to the commission that surveyed the land upon which Washington, D.C., was built. • He worked for free public education and to put an end to capital punishment. • Banneker contributed to the field of astronomy, by devising calculations to predict solar and lunar eclipses. • He is famous for his puzzles in mathematics and trigonometry. • He was instrumental in devising a method of finding the lengths of the sides of an equilateral triangle inscribed in a circle, whose diameter is known. • He died on October 9, 1806, in his home town of Ellicott's Mills, Maryland.

3. Timeline for the life of Benjamin Banneker 1792 -1802 Wrote almanacs that were widely read 1806 Died in Elliott's Mill Maryland 1980 US Postage Stamp released in his honor 1752 Borrowed and designed a Pocket Watch and other huge clocks 1731 Born in Elliott's Mill, Maryland 1789 Contributed to the field of astronomy, by devising calculations to predict solar and lunar eclipses

4. Benjamin Banneker was born on November 9, 1731 in Ellicott's Mills, Maryland . He was a Black mathematician, astronomer, clockmaker and publisher. His mother’s name was Mary and his father was an African native. He quit school at a very young age.

5. At age 21, Benjamin borrowed and was intrigued by a pocket watch given to him by a well-to-do neighbor. He started examining the watch and it's working. He took it apart and made a drawing of each component. He designed huge replicas of the watch by calculating the gear assemblies and made a huge striking clock. He designed and constructed the first wooden clock in America. It struck hours for over 50 years.

6. Benjamin was a “confirmed bachelor”. He washed his own clothes, cooked his own meals, and cultivated gardens around his cabin. He studied all night, slept all morning, and worked all afternoon. In the middle of his cabin there was always a large table covered with books and papers.

7. Benjamin loved music and even played the violin. He was constantly in correspondence with other mathematicians in the United States, exchanging questions and seeking solutions. That is how he learned.

8. From 1792 to 1802, Benjamin wrote a series of annual almanacs that were widely read. He was named to the commission that surveyed the land upon which Washington, D.C., was built. He also proposed that the cabinet have a Secretary of Peace as well as a Secretary of War. He worked for free public education and to put an end to capital punishment.

9. At the age of 58, Benjamin Banneker • contributed to the field of astronomy, by devising calculations to predict solar and lunar eclipses.

10. Benjamin Banneker also is famous for his puzzles in mathematics and trigonometry. His puzzle, 'Trigonometry' demonstrates his expertise in logarithms. People still wonder which logarithmic table he might have used.

11. Benjamin Banneker was instrumental in devising a method of finding the lengths of the sides of an equilateral triangle inscribed in a circle, whose diameter is known. His pioneering discoveries brought positive change to mathematics.

12. On October 9, 1806, at age 74, Benjamin Banneker died in his home town of Ellicott's Mills, Maryland. In 1980 the US Postal Service issued a postage stamp in his honor. It is pictured on the right.