Near the beginning of the eighteenth century, Molly Walsh emigrated from England to the Maryland colony as an indentured servant. Upon completeing her seven-year servitude, Molly purchased a farm in Maryland and two slaves. After granting these slaves their freedom, Molly married one of them. His name was Bannaky (derived from his true name Banna Ka). Molly gave birth to several children including a daughter, Mary, who followed in her mother's footsteps. Mary also bought a slave, Robert, whom she emancipated and later married. Mary and Robert Bannaky later became the proud parents of Benjamin Banneker.
Benjamin Banneker showed promise at a young age. His grandmmother Molly taught him to read using the Bible. By the age of 15, Benjamin had secured an eighth-grade education by attending a local Quaker school during the winters. In 1746, Benjamin took over his family farm and single-handedly created a complex irrigational system comprised of ditches and dams used to control the flow of water from local natural springs.
Though he was most well-known for his fascination and expertise with
time-keeping devices such as watches and clocks, Benjamin Banneker was
also an amateur mathematician and astronomer. Joseph Ellicott, an
industrialist who enlisted Banneker's help in creating a complex clock,
was also an amateur mathematician and astronomer. After befriending
him, Ellicott lent Banneker books on advanced mathematics as well as astronomy.
By 1773, Benjamin had become enthraled with and devoted to his studies
in these disciplines. One of his few claims to fame in mathematics and
astronomy lie in that he was able to successfully predict the solar eclipse
that occurred on April 14, 1789, sharply contradicting the forecasts on
contemporary mathematicians and astronomers.
In addition, Banneker conducted a mathematical study on the cycle of
the seventeen-year locust.
Benjamin Banneker did many great things after this. At the age of 60, he was appointed by Presidnet George Washington to a three-man team that was commissioned to survey land which would eventually become the District of Columbia. Banneker worked closely with Pierre L'Enfant who was the head architect. Banneker is credited with re-creating the architectural plans from memory, something which became necessary after L'Enfant's dismissal.
One very meaningful contribution that Benjamin Banneker made came in the form of a discourse with (then) Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson. The following 1792 quote has been attributed to Jefferson:
"Comparing them by their faculties of memory, reason, and imagination, it appears to me that in memory [the Negros] are equal to the whites; in reason much inferior, as I think one could scarcely be found capable of tracing and comprehending the investigations of Euclid; and that in imagination they are dull, tasteless, and anomalous."Banneker penned a very articulate 12-page letter to Jefferson in which he requested aid in educating his countrymen. The act of scripting that particular letter refuted the notion of an inherent inequality of Blacks to others. Though not much is known of the success of Banneker's request, his statement to Jefferson impressed many and was most likely helpful in ushering in a new sentiment about the intellectual ability of American Blacks.
All in all, Benjamin Banneker is known in history for his intellegence, knowledge, and resourcefulness. His is one name on a long list of Blacks who were pioneers in mathematics and the sciences.
Author: Clarence L. Terry
References:
http://www.math.buffalo.edu/mad/amu_chma_online.html
Author: Dr. Scott Williams, professor of mathematics
Bedini, Silvio A. The Life of Benjamin Banneker. Charles Scribner's Sons Publishing. New York, 1971.
Graham, Shirley. Your Most Humble Servant. Julius
Messner Publishing. New York, 1971.
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