Benjamin Banneker - A Man of Science

Benjamin Banneker was born to free parents on November 9, 1731, in Baltimore County, Maryland, spent his childhood on his family's farm, learned to read and write from his grandmother, later attended a one-room school, worked a 100-acre tobacco farm he owned with his father, and pursued independent study. At age 21, he drew public attention by building a wooden striking clock after duplicating watch parts, and the clock reportedly kept precise time for decades. His mathematical skill led to correspondence with scholars who challenged him with arithmetic problems, which he solved while also replying with math puzzles in prose. In his astronomical studies, he wrote annual almanacs listing tides, astronomical information, and lunar and solar eclipses that he calculated himself. He also observed bee cycles and noted the 17-year cycle of the Brood X cicadas.

Washington, District of Columbia · United States