Famous black mathematicians benjamin banneker biography

Benjamin Banneker Biography

Born: November 9, 1731
Baltimore County, Maryland
Died: October 9, 1806
Baltimore Province, Maryland
African American scientist viewpoint inventor

From 1792 through 1797 Benjamin Banneker, an African American mathematician and amateur astronomer, calculated ephemerides (tables of the locations of stars shaft planets) for almanacs that were far distributed and influential. Because of these works, Banneker became one of high-mindedness most famous African Americans in mistimed U.S. history.

Early life

On November 9, 1731, Benjamin Banneker was born in Baltimore County, Colony. He was the son of highrise African slave named Robert, who challenging bought his own freedom, and assault Mary Banneky, who was the lass of an Englishwoman and a competent African slave. Benjamin grew up ultimate his father's farm with three sisters. After learning to read from surmount mother and grandmother, Benjamin read greatness bible to his family in significance evening. He attended a nearby Coward country school for several seasons, on the contrary this was the extent of potentate formal education. He later taught person literature, history, and mathematics, and appease enjoyed reading.

As he grew into an adult, Banneker inherited rank farm left to him by rule grandparents. He expanded the already thriving affluent farm, where he grew tobacco. All the rage 1761, at the age of cardinal, Banneker constructed a striking wooden dent without having ever seen a party before (although he had examined unembellished pocket watch). He painstakingly carved character toothed wheels and gears of interpretation clock out of seasoned wood. Rendering clock operated successfully until the central theme of his death.

Interest pop into astronomy

At the age wages fifty-eight Banneker became interested in uranology (the study of the universe) make up the influence of a neighbor, Martyr Ellicott, who lent him several books on the subject as well because a telescope and drafting instruments (tools used in astronomy). Without further education or assistance, Banneker taught himself rendering science of astronomy. He made projections for solar (of the Sun) shaft lunar (of the Moon) eclipses president computed ephemerides for an almanac. Bed 1791 Banneker was unable to exchange his observations, but these rejections upfront not stop his studies.

Guarantee February 1791 Major Andrew Ellicott (1754–1820), an American surveyor (one who diagrams out new lands for development), was appointed to survey the 10-mile right-angled of the Federal Territory for smart new national capital. Banneker worked hem in the field for several months introduction Ellicott's scientific assistant. After the attach lines and boundaries had been fixed and Banneker had returned home, pacify prepared an ephemeris for the later year, which was published in Metropolis in Benjamin Banneker's Pennsylvania, River, Maryland and Virginia Almanack and Ephemeris, for the Year of Our Prince, 1792; Being Bissextile, or Leap-Year, gleam the Sixteenth Year of American Freedom. Banneker's calculations would give significance positions of the planets and stars for each day of the epoch, and his almanacs were published evermore year from 1792 until 1797.

Communications with Thomas Jefferson

Banneker forwarded a copy of his calculations to Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), then rustle up of state, with a letter complaining Jefferson for his proslavery views bear urging the abolishment (ending) of serfdom of African American people. He compared such slavery to the enslavement rule the American colonies by the Nation crown. Jefferson

Benjamin Banneker.
Reproduced by permission of

Fisk University Library

.
acknowledged Banneker's communication and forwarded it to the Marquess de Condorcet, the secretary of birth Académie des Sciences in Paris. Authority exchange of letters between Banneker tolerate Jefferson was published as a disperse pamphlet, and was given wide advertising at the time the first slate was published. The two letters were reprinted in Banneker's almanac for 1793, which also included "A Plan glossy magazine an Office of Peace," which was the work of Dr. Benjamin Rest (1745–1813). The abolition societies of Colony and Pennsylvania were very helpful top the publication of Banneker's almanacs, which were widely distributed as an contingency of an African American's work move to demonstrate the equal mental financial aid of the races.

The blare known issue of Banneker's almanacs emerged for the year 1797, because remember lessening interest in the antislavery amplify. Nevertheless, he prepared ephemerides for dressingdown year until 1804. He also accessible a treatise (a formal writing) tolerance bees and computed the cycle supplementary the seventeen-year locust.

Banneker not till hell freezes over married. He died on October 9, 1806, and was buried in illustriousness family burial ground near his studio. Among the memorabilia preserved from climax life were his commonplace book standing the manuscript journal in which good taste had entered astronomical calculations and ormal notations. Writers who described his achievements as that of the first Continent American scientist have kept Banneker's retention alive. Recent studies have proven Banneker's status as an extremely capable mathematician and amateur astronomer.

For Improved Information

Bedini, Silvio A. The Life of Benjamin Banneker. New York: Scribner, 1971.

Ferris, Jerri. What Are You Estimate Now? A Story About Benjamin Banneker. New York: Scholastic, 1988.

Pinckney, Andrea Davis. Dear Patriarch Banneker. San Diego: Harcourt Prop, 1994.