Benjamin Banneker

When a mysterious fire burned down his home while his funeral was going on just a few hundred yards away, whoever started it presumably must have thought they could erase Benjamin Banneker from history. His clock, his writings, his telescope, musical instruments, and virtually all of his lifelong work and possessions were never seen again. Through the passionate support and effort of Historians over the years, much has been learned about Benjamin Banneker and his contributions to the history of this country. Surprisingly though, many people are still not familiar with Banneker and are always amazed when they learn what he somehow managed to achieve.

Benjamin Banneker was born a free man in Maryland on November 9, 1731. A land-owning farmer of modest means, Banneker nevertheless lived a life of unusual achievement. In 1751, Banneker borrowed a pocket watch from a well-to-do neighbor; he took it apart and studied it’s workings. He made a drawing of each component, then reassembled the watch and returned it, fully functioning, to its owner. From his drawings Banneker then proceeded to carve, out of wood, enlarged replicas of each part.

Calculating the proper number of teeth for each gear and the necessary relationships between the gears, he completed construction of a working wooden clock in 1753 that kept accurate time and struck the hours for over 50 years until it was destroyed along with most of Banneker’s other belongings in a mysterious house fire that took place on the day of Banneker’s funeral. Benjamin Banneker has been credited for constructing the first striking clock to be built completely in America from parts completely carved of wood.

Banneker attended a few years of school as a very young child but was entirely self-educated after the 2nd grade. He lived most of the first 60 years his life within a few miles of his property where he spent his time farming, studying, reading, and exchanging correspondence with other scholars. He enjoyed math, science, and music among other things. He played the violin and flute and became accomplished at both. He was known to keep a large table in the middle of his home that was usually full of various papers and instruments he used for his many hobbies. After the completion of his clock Banneker had numerous visitors who traveled great distances to see his work and learn from him. From what we know he enjoyed many long conversations with other scholars about various things he had interest in. Banneker also would exchange and complete challenging math problems with other mathematicians via mail. Banneker's quest for knowledge was a lifelong passion as he continually seemed to push himself to explore and learn more about everything he could regardless of his age or what other people told him he could or couldn't do. He was on a never-ending quest for knowledge and that would continue throughout his entire life.

CLICK HERE TO READ FAMOUS BENJAMIN BANNEKER QUOTES.

At age 58, Banneker began the study of astronomy and was soon predicting future solar and lunar eclipses. He spent a full year painstakingly charting the stars and planets each night. Banneker became a well respected astronomer and was part of a team appointed by George Washington that helped survey the boundaries creating what would become the new capital city Washington DC in 1791. Further expanding upon his astronomy skills Banneker compiled the ephemeris, or information table, for annual almanacs that were published for the years 1792 through 1797. "Benjamin Banneker's Almanac" contained many useful facts and information Banneker had learned over the years and was a top seller from Pennsylvania to Virginia and even into Kentucky. It was important because it was one of the first published works (and the first almanac or book of "science") by an African American author.

The "Sable Astronomer" was often pointed to as proof that African Americans were not intellectually inferior to European Americans. Thomas Jefferson himself noted this in a letter he wrote in response to Benjamin Banneker who had written a letter to and criticized Jefferson, a slave owner himself, for his "absurd and false ideas" and urged him to recognize that “one Universal Father…afforded us all the same sensations and endowed us all with the same faculties.”

Banneker would publish the letters (both his letter and Jefferson’s response) in his 1793 Almanac becoming a forefather in the fight for equality among men regardless of race. By publishing these letters in his Almanac Benjamin Banneker became one of the first published Civil Rights Activists and helped start a movement that has continued for over 200 years. Banneker was always driven by the idea that someday America would be free of slavery.

CLICK HERE TO READ BANNEKER'S LETTER TO THOMAS JEFFERSON

Benjamin Banneker died on Sunday, October 9, 1806 at the age of 74.

Banneker's clock, most of his personal belongings and nearly all his writings, research, and books were thought to be destroyed in a mysterious house fire presumably started by arsonists while his funeral was going on just a few hundred yards away. By the time mourners realized what was going on, the fire had engulfed his home and completely destroyed his estate. The loss was tragic and the full extent of what Banneker achieved and was working on at the time of his death will never be realized.

Many people have not yet heard the story of Benjamin Banneker and have no idea what he contributed to the great history of this country. It is our mission to not only educate people, but to use the story of Banneker to inspire a sense of pride and to help them achieve greatness themselves. If this man achieved so much with so little just imagine what you are capable of doing with the tools afforded to us today. We hope you will join the Banneker Movement and help us share the history as well.

Banneker's life and achievements are inspirational. Despite the popular prejudices of his times, the man was quite unwilling to let his race or his age hinder in any way his thirst for intellectual development. Benjamin Banneker is truly a forgotten founding father.

Because Banneker's clock was made entirely out of wood, all Banneker Watches, Clocks, and Jewelry contain wood elements crafted with a wide assortment of luxury woods from around the world. We hope you enjoy your Banneker timepiece and will be as inspired by the story of Benjamin Banneker as we are.

Learn More about Benjamin Banneker at http://www.banneker1753.com

If you would like to learn more, here is a video that shares a little more information about the History of Benjamin Banneker and some of the great things he accomplished. Please visit our YouTube page for other Benjamin Banneker videos.

Some Additional Interesting Facts about Benjamin Banneker

was born November 9, 1731 in Ellicott's Mills, Maryland
had a grandmother named Molly Welsh, who was an English indentured servant
had a grandfather who was originally a slave of Molly Welsh, but whom she freed and then married
had a mother named Mary & 3 sisters
had a father who was an African native and a Grandfather who was thought to be son of an African King
wrote a dissertation on bees
designed and constructed what was the first wooden clock made entirely in America
attended a Quaker school in Maryland with European American and African American children
farmed land ten miles outside Baltimore where he spent more than 85% of his life (Near what is now Ellicott)
washed his own clothes, cooked his own meals, and cultivated gardens around his cabin
was a "confirmed bachelor" who studied all night, slept all morning, and worked all afternoon
wrapped himself in a great cloak at night, lay under a pear tree, and meditated on the revolutions of the heavenly bodies
always had standing, in the middle of his cabin, a large table covered with books and papers
played the violin and the flute and was quite accomplished at both
was constantly in correspondence with other mathematicians in the United States, exchanging questions and seeking solutions
from 1792 to 1802, wrote a series of annual almanacs that were widely read
was named to the commission that surveyed the land upon which Washington, D.C., was built
proposed that the cabinet have a Secretary of Peace as well as a Secretary of War
worked for free public education and an end to capital punishment
died on October 9, 1806, in Ellicott's Mills, Maryland