Benjamin Banneker
Free African-American scientist, surveyor, almanac author and farmer / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Benjamin Banneker (November 9, 1731 ā October 19, 1806) was an African-American naturalist, mathematician, astronomer and almanac author. A landowner, he also worked as a surveyor and farmer.
This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. The specific problem is: over 50 citation errors and overly detailed quotes in references. (August 2023) |
Benjamin Banneker | |
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Born | November 9, 1731 |
Died | October 19, 1806(1806-10-19) (aged 74) Oella, Baltimore County, Maryland, U.S. |
Nationality | American |
Other names | Benjamin Bannaker |
Occupation(s) | almanac author, surveyor, farmer |
Parents |
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Born in Baltimore County, Maryland, to a free African-American mother and a father who had formerly been enslaved, Banneker had little or no formal education and was largely self-taught. He became known for assisting Major Andrew Ellicott in a survey that established the original borders of the District of Columbia, the federal capital district of the United States.
Banneker's knowledge of astronomy helped him author a commercially successful series of almanacs. He corresponded with Thomas Jefferson on the topics of slavery and racial equality. Abolitionists and advocates of racial equality promoted and praised Banneker's works. Although a fire on the day of Banneker's funeral destroyed many of his papers and belongings, one of his journals and several of his remaining artifacts survived.
Banneker became a folk-hero after his death, leading to many accounts of his life being exaggerated or embellished.[2] The names of parks, schools and streets commemorate him and his works, as do other tributes.