-Banneker was called upon to assist in the surveying of territory for the construction of the city of Washington, the capital of the new nation. He also became a writer of almanacs and exchanged letters with Thomas Jefferson, challenging him politely to do what he could to ensure racial equality.
1731
1806
Ellicott’s Mills, Maryland, America
African-American
1791 Assisted in surveying territory for Washington, to be the nation’s capital city
1791 Wrote a letter to Jefferson and received correspondence
1792 – 1797 Published almanacs for six consecutive years
1793 Published an almanac containing the correspondence between him and Jefferson which earned him widespread support
-Jones was born to Mary and Robert Banneker. Robert had been enslaved, and Mary was the daughter of an English indentured servant who, once freed, also freed her husband Bannka from slavery. After Bannka was freed he asserted that he came from tribal royalty in West Africa.
-Benjamin was taught to read by his maternal grandmother and attended a small Quaker school for a short period, but he was primarily self-educated. Banneker taught himself astronomy and could accurately forecast lunar and solar eclipses.
-His early accomplishments consisted of building a successful irrigation system for the family farm and building a wooden clock which ran for more than 50 years.
-After his father died he ran his own farm and cultivated a business growing and selling tobacco.
-The Ellicott family, who were wealthy entrepreneurs, noticed Banneker, and George Ellicott would loan him books.
1791:
Banneker was hired by Andrew Ellicott to assist in surveying territory for the new capital city of Washington.
Almanacs:
-Between 1792 and 1797, Banneker published almanacs for six consecutive years. These included his own astronomical calculations as well as opinion pieces, literature and medical and tidal information. The tidal information he produced was helpful for many fishermen.
-Banneker also published information on bees and calculated the cycle of the 17-year locust.
Letter to Thomas Jefferson:
-In 1791, Banneker wrote a letter to Jefferson urging him to ‘readily embrace every opportunity to eradicate that train of absurd and false ideas and opinions which so generally prevail with respect to us.’ Banneker criticised the hypocrisy of Jefferson and other patriots for fighting for their independence from the British whilst enslaving people. This is cited below.
1793 almanac:
-Banneker published his and Jefferson’s correspondence in this almanac. His outspokenness of the issue of slavery earned him widespread support with abolitionist societies in Maryland and Pennsylvania.
-Banneker continued his scientific studies throughout his life but by 1797 his sales of his almanac had declined and he discontinued their publication. He spent his following years selling off much of his farm to the Ellicott’s.
Benjamin Banneker’s letter to Thomas Jefferson:
Benjamin Banneker, National Archives Founders Online [accessed 11 February 2022]
Thomas Jefferson’s response letter to Benjamin Banneker:
Thomas Jefferson, Library of Congress [accessed 11 February 2022]
Silvio A. Bedini, The Life of Benjamin Banneker: The First African-American Man of Science, 2nd edn (Maryland: The Maryland Historical Society, 1998)
