Benjamin Banneker , a famous self-taught mathematician , was born on November 9th, 1731. Benjamin Banneker was the son of an ex-slave named Robert and his wife, Mary Banneker. Mary was the daughter of an Englishwoman named Molly Welsh, a former indentured servant, and her husband, Bannka, an ex-slave whom she freed and who asserted that he came from tribal royalty in West Africa.His grandmother, Molly was a slave owner who eventually set her slaves free and married one of them. Out of that marriage, they had several children including a daughter named Mary who also purchased slaves like her mother to set them free and married a freed slave she had previously purchased. They lived on the family farm for several years before having
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Banneker also studied astronomy during this time as well because he saw a correlation between the two subjects. Part of what made Benjamin Banneker so notable for his time period is that he was an African-American scholar and mathematician who learned almost entirely from self-study. He became one of the first African-Americans in the United States to make a name for himself in science. While he became better known for his successful predictions based on astronomical studies, he first appeared on the national radar by building the first entirely wooden clock, but eventually went on to accomplish much more. It was the first of its kind in the nation, and accurately recorded time for several decades. But it also questioned the thoughts and opinions of one of the most famous politicians and thinkers in America at the time. These questions are not easy to answer and they can be asked again and again by successive generations. .Banneker published six almanacs in 28 editions. He continued to live on his farm until his death in
Banneker also studied astronomy during this time as well because he saw a correlation between the two subjects. Part of what made Benjamin Banneker so notable for his time period is that he was an African-American scholar and mathematician who learned almost entirely from self-study. He became one of the first African-Americans in the United States to make a name for himself in science. While he became better known for his successful predictions based on astronomical studies, he first appeared on the national radar by building the first entirely wooden clock, but eventually went on to accomplish much more. It was the first of its kind in the nation, and accurately recorded time for several decades. But it also questioned the thoughts and opinions of one of the most famous politicians and thinkers in America at the time. These questions are not easy to answer and they can be asked again and again by successive generations. .Banneker published six almanacs in 28 editions. He continued to live on his farm until his death in