Benjamin Banneker Accomplishments

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Benjamin Banneker was born on November 9, 1731 in Ellicott’s Mill, Maryland. A free black man who owned a farm new Baltimore he was highly self-educated in astronomy and mathematics. He also became an active writer of almanacs and exchanged letters with Thomas Jefferson politely challenging him to do what he could to ensure racial equality. He was a son of an ex-slave name Robert and his wife Mary. Because both of his parents was free he got away from the wrath of slavery. Banneker’s childhood was not average at all. Banneker early accomplishments was constructing an irrigation system for the family farm. He even made a wooden clock that was reputed to keep accurate time. The clock ran for more than 50 years until it was it time to die. Banneker taught himself astronomy and accurately forecasted lunar and solar eclipses. After his father died he ran the farm for years selling tobacco via crops. Banneker’s talents and intelligence eventually came to the attention of the …show more content…
By 1797 sales pf his almanac had declined and he discontinued publication. In the years following he sold off much of his farm to the Ellicott’s and others to make ends meet continuing living in his log cabin. He was a caring man who always wanted to give. Then there was his time his time to go. On October 9, 1806, after his usual morning walk Banneker died in his sleep just a month short of his 75th birthday. In accordance with his wishes all the items that had been on loan from his neighbor George Ellicott, were returned by Banneker’s nephew. On Tuesday, October 11 at the family burial ground a few yards from this house, Benjamin Banneker was laid to rest. Benjamin Banneker’s life was remembered in an obituary in the Federal Gazette of Philadelphia and has continued to be written about over the ensuing two centuries. I pick this man because he was black and wanted to do something with his
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