Benjamin Banneker Biography for Kids
Curiosities of Childhood
Benjamin Banneker was born on November 9, 1731 in Ellicott City, Maryland. He learned reading and math at an early age from his Quaker grandmother. Once he was old enough to help on his parents farm, however, Benjamin’s education ended. Nevertheless, he exhibited an unusual fascination with taking things apart and putting them back together. At the age of 21, Benjamin received his first pocket watch. He was so amazed by the workings of the intricate little machine, that he built his own working clock out of wood.
Benjamin soon became a clock and watch maker. One of his customers was a surveyor named Joseph Ellicott. Ellicott was so impressed by Benjamin’s work that he lent his books on mathematics and astronomy. By this time, Benjamin was 58 years old. Nevertheless, he began to study astronomy. Benjamin quickly learned astronomy and even made calculations that predicted the times of solar and lunar eclipses. Benjamin wrote down his calculations in his own almanac. He also calculated the position of the planets for each day of the year. His almanac was called:
Benjamin Banneker’s Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia Almanack and Ephemeris, for the Year of Our Lord, 1792; Being Bissextile, or Leap-Year, and the Sixteenth Year of American Independence.
Surveying the District of Columbia
At the age of 59, Benjamin was hired by Andrew Ellicott, the brother of Joseph Ellicott, to assist in surveying the area that would eventually become the District of Columbia. Although Benjamin had to leave the project early because of illness, he forwarded a copy of his almanac to Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson. He also criticized him for his pro-slavery views and urged him to put an end to slavery. Jefferson quickly responded and wrote that he agreed with Benjamin and hoped slavery could be abolished. The correspondence between Benjamin and Thomas Jefferson would subsequently be published in later copies of Benjamin’s almanac.
Benjamin died in 1806 – a pioneer in both astronomy and civil rights. Today, a new monument in Washington D.C. is being planned for him.