Banneker, Benjamin

Banneker, Benjamin
born Nov. 9, 1731, Ellicott's Mills, Md.
died Oct. 25, 1806, Baltimore, Md., U.S.

American astronomer, compiler of almanacs, and inventor.

A free black who owned a farm near Baltimore, Banneker was largely self-educated in astronomy and mathematics. In 1761 he attracted attention by building a wooden clock that kept precise time. He began astronomical calculations about 1773, accurately predicted a solar eclipse in 1789, and published annually from 1791 to 1802 the Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia Almanac and Ephemeris. (He sent an early copy of the almanac to Thomas Jefferson to counter a contention that blacks were intellectually inferior.) In 1790 he was appointed to the commission that surveyed the site for Washington, D.C. He also wrote essays denouncing slavery and war.

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▪ American scientist
born Nov. 9, 1731, Ellicott's Mills, Md.
died Oct. 25, 1806, Baltimore, Md., U.S.
 mathematician, astronomer, compiler of almanacs, inventor, and writer, one of the first important black American intellectuals.

      A free black who owned a farm near Baltimore, Banneker was largely self-educated in astronomy by watching the stars and in mathematics by reading borrowed textbooks. In 1761 he attracted attention by building a wooden clock that kept precise time. Encouraged in his studies by a Maryland industrialist, Joseph Ellicott, he began astronomical calculations about 1773, accurately predicted a solar eclipse in 1789, and published annually from 1791 to 1802 the Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia Almanac and Ephemeris. Appointed to the District of Columbia Commission by President George Washington in 1790, he worked with Andrew Ellicott and others in surveying Washington, D.C.

      As an essayist and pamphleteer, Banneker opposed slavery and war. He sent a copy of his first almanac to Thomas Jefferson (Jefferson, Thomas), then U.S. secretary of state, along with a letter asking Jefferson's aid in bringing about better conditions for American blacks. Banneker's almanacs were acclaimed by European scientists to whom Jefferson made them known.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Banneker,Benjamin — Ban·ne·ker (bănʹĭ kər), Benjamin. 1731 1806. American mathematician and astronomer who published an almanac (1792 1802) containing ephemerides that he had calculated. * * * …   Universalium

  • Banneker, Benjamin — (9 nov. 1731, Ellicotts Mills, Md., EE.UU. –25 oct. 1806, Baltimore, Md.). Astrónomo estadounidense, compilador de almanaques e inventor. Negro liberto, propietario de una granja cerca de Baltimore, fue casi enteramente autodidacta en astronomía… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Benjamin Banneker — (November 9, 1731 ndash;October 9, 1806) was a free African American astronomer, mathematician, surveyor, almanac author and farmer. Although it is difficult to verify details of Benjamin Banneker s family history, it appears that his grandmother …   Wikipedia

  • Banneker — Benjamin Banneker (* 9. November 1731 in Baltimore County, Maryland; † 25. Oktober 1806 ebenda) war ein Mathematiker, Astronom und Abolitionist. Er gilt als erster afroamerikanischer Wissenschaftler.[1] …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Benjamin Banneker — est un astronome, fabricant d horloges et éditeur américain, né le 9 novembre 1731 à Maryland et mort le 9 octobre 1806. Benjamin Banneker est fils et petit fils d esclaves. Le nom originel de la famille est Banna Ka ou Bannakay. Son père, Robert …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Banneker High School (College Park, Georgia) — Infobox Secondary school name = Benjamin Banneker High School native name = motto = established = address = city = College Park state = Georgia country = United States campus = type = Public High School affiliation = principal = Will Bradley… …   Wikipedia

  • benjamin — /ben jeuh meuhn/, n. benzoin1 (def. 2). [1570 80; alter. (by assoc. with the proper name) of benjoin, early form of BENZOIN1] * * * (as used in expressions) Banneker Benjamin Benjamin Judah Philip Benjamin Walter Benjamin Kubelsky Bloch Marc… …   Universalium

  • Benjamin — /ben jeuh meuhn/, n. 1. the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel, and the brother of Joseph. Gen. 35:18. 2. one of the 12 tribes of ancient Israel traditionally descended from him. 3. Asher, 1773 1845, U.S. architect and writer. 4. Judah Philip, 1811 …   Universalium

  • Benjamin — (De Benjamín, hijo menor de Jacob.) ► sustantivo Hijo menor de una familia. * * * benjamín, a (de «Benjamín», nombre del hijo menor y más querido de Jacob) 1 n. Se aplica al hijo menor de una familia, cuando se quiere significar que es el más… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Benjamín — (De Benjamín, hijo menor de Jacob.) ► sustantivo Hijo menor de una familia. * * * benjamín, a (de «Benjamín», nombre del hijo menor y más querido de Jacob) 1 n. Se aplica al hijo menor de una familia, cuando se quiere significar que es el más… …   Enciclopedia Universal

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