BENJAMIN

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BENJAMIN

• BANNEKER
• The first African American astronomer

Mathematician
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Benjamin Banneker
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The Beginning

• Benjamin Banneker was born in the United States.
• He was born in Baltimore, Maryland on November 9,
  1731.

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The Family

• Benjamins father and grandfather were both
  former slaves.
• At the age of 15 Banneker took over the
  operations of the family farm.

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School

• Benjamin Banneker taught himself astronomy and
  advanced math.
• He became so good in math his progress was faster
  than his teacher could keep up with.
• He would make his own math problems to solve.

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The pocket watch

• One day Banneker borrowed a pocket watch from his
  friend and took it completely apart.
• Banneker studied the gears and how they worked.
• Then he made a drawing of all parts.
• Later, he put it fully back together working
  perfectly.

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Bannekers wooden clock

• From his drawings of the pocket watch, he started
  to carve out of wood, larger replicas of each
  part.
• Banneker calculated the proper number of teeth
  of each gear and the relationships between them.
• After that he made a working wooden clock that
  kept accurate time and struck every hour for 50
  years.

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His Clock
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Benjamins business

• After he made his famous clock, Banneker started
  a clock and watch repair business.
• Later on, he helped a famous Marylander Joseph
  Ellicott, build a complicated clock.

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Banneker's Prediction

• At the age of 58 Banneker predicted the solar and
  lunar eclipses.

Solar
Lunar
The prediction was correct.
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Benjamins Almanac

• The first almanac was published in 1792.
• What made Bannekers almanac different was it
  included notes, information and fillers that had
  a political and compassionate purpose.
• He sent a copy of his almanac to Thomas
  Jefferson.
• His last almanac was published in 1796.

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Benjamins Almanac
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Washington, D.C.

• George Washington appointed Banneker to help lay
  out the new capital city, Washington D.C. in
  1791.
• Banneker was the first African American
  presidential appointee.
• Pierre LEnfant quit and took his plans with him
  but Benjamin memorized his work exactly and was
  able to remake the plans.

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His Contribution to Mathematics

• He provided the astronomical calculations for the
  lay out of Washington, D.C.
• After surveying the area, Banneker assisted
  Ellicott in the reconstruction of the plans for
  laying out the streets of Washington, D.C.
• He provided the final layout for buildings,
  boulevards, and avenues.
• If Benjamin Banneker would not have memorized the
  plans Washington, D.C. would not be like it is
  today.

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The Map
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Banneker's Other Works

• Published a essay on bees
• A mathematical study on the cycle of a
  seventeen-year locust
• Wrote about the anti-slavery movement

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The Ending

• Benjamin Banneker died on Sunday, October 9,
  1806.
• At the time of his death he was 74.
• His death was one month from his birthday.
• Bannekers home burnt the day he was buried.
• The U.S. Postal Service issued a postage stamp in
  his honor in 1980.

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Information Sites

• www.math.buffalo.edu
• www.progress.org
• www.wikipedia.com
• www.space.about.com
• www.libary.thinkquest.org
• www.coestudents.valodsta.edu
• www.pbs.org
• www.web.ncifcrf.gov