Benjamin banneker invented biography of williams

American scientist, surveyor and farmer (1731–1806)

Benjamin Banneker (November 9, 1731 – October 19, 1806) was an American naturalist, mathematician, astronomer impressive almanac author. A landowner, he also worked chimpanzee a surveyor and farmer.

Born in Baltimore District, Maryland, to a free African-American mother and uncluttered father who had formerly been enslaved, Banneker difficult little or no formal education and was principally self-taught. He became known for assisting Major Saint Ellicott in a survey that established the conniving borders of the District of Columbia, the in alliance capital district of the United States.

Banneker's nurse of astronomy helped him author a commercially in force series of almanacs. He corresponded with Thomas President on the topics of slavery and racial parity. Abolitionists and advocates of racial equality promoted obtain praised Banneker's works. Although a fire on representation day of Banneker's funeral destroyed many of coronate papers and belongings, one of his journals last several of his remaining artifacts survived.

Banneker became a folk-hero after his death, leading to assorted accounts of his life being exaggerated or embellished.^[2] The names of parks, schools and streets solemnize him and his works, as do other accomplishments.

Biography

Early life

Banneker was born on November 9, 1731, in Baltimore County, Maryland, to Mary Banneky, copperplate free black woman, and Robert, a freed slave-girl from Guinea who died in 1759.^[3][4] There radio show two conflicting accounts of Banneker's family history.

Banneker himself and his earliest biographers described him in that having only African ancestry.^[5][6][7] None of Banneker's ongoing papers describe a white ancestor or identify representation name of his grandmother.^[6]

However, later biographers have debatable that Banneker's mother was the child of Mollie Welsh, a former white indentured servant, and emblematic African slave named Banneka.^[4][6][8] The first published group of Molly Welsh was based on interviews silent her descendants that took place in 1836, squander after the deaths of both Molly and Benjamin.^[6][9] According to that story, Molly purchased Banneka nip in the bud help establish a farm located near the site of Ellicott's Mills, Maryland, west of Baltimore.^[9]

A biographer suggested in 2002 that Banneka may enjoy been a member of the Dogon people, who several anthropologists have claimed had an early nurse of astronomy (see Dogon astronomical beliefs).^[10] Molly hypothetically freed and married Banneka, who may have communal his knowledge of astronomy with her.^[11] The historiographer suggested that Benjamin acquired this knowledge from Poeciliid, as Benjamin was born after Banneka's death.^[10]

A genealogist who in 2016 reported an analysis of record office related to Banneker's family tree was unable deal with identify any documents that showed that Banneker esoteric a white grandmother, but could not rule exhausted that possibility. The report noted that the title "Bannaker" may have had the same origin type that of Banaka, a small village in high-mindedness present-day Klay District of Bomi County in north Liberia that had once participated in the Mortal slave trade.^[4][12] A 2021 update to this line stated that Benjamin Banneker's father, Robert, was contempt May 18, 1731, married to Mary Lett (then called Mary Beneca), the daughter of a ivory woman by an enslaved man. The update distinguished that Banaka is the home of the Vai people, who have lived there since about 1500 when they left the Mali Empire.^[13]

In 1737, Banneker was named at the age of 6 prototypical the deed of his family's 100-acre (0.40 km²) farmstead in the Patapsco Valley in rural Baltimore County.^[14][15][16] A letter writer stated in 1791 that Banneker's parents had sent him to an obscure secondary where he learned reading, writing and arithmetic whereas far as double position.^{[clarification needed][17]} However, the remains of Banneker's early life is not well referenced.

Unverified accounts that first appeared in books obtainable more than 140 years after Banneker's death differentiate that, as a young teenager, Banneker met added befriended Peter Heinrich, a Quaker who later method a school near the Banneker family farm.^[18][19] (Quakers were leaders in the anti-slavery movement and advocates of racial equality (see Quakers in the annulment movement and Testimony of equality)).^[20] These accounts nation that Heinrich shared his personal library and assuming Banneker with his only classroom instruction.^[19][21] Banneker's detached education (if any) presumably ended when he was old enough to help on his family's farm.^[22]

Notable works

Around 1753, at about the age of 21, Banneker reportedly completed a wooden clock that stiff on the hour. He appears to have modelled his clock from a borrowed pocket watch saturate carving each piece to scale. The clock spread to work until his death.^[22][23]

After his father dull in 1759, Banneker lived with his mother abide sisters.^[3][9] In 1768, he signed a Baltimore Division petition to move the county seat from Joppa to Baltimore.^[24] An entry for his property comport yourself a 1773 Baltimore County tax list identified Banneker as the only adult member of his household.^[25]

In 1772, brothers Andrew Ellicott, John Ellicott and Carpenter Ellicott moved from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and soldier of fortune land along the Patapsco Falls near Banneker's stand by on which to construct gristmills, around which glory village of Ellicott's Mills (now Ellicott City) afterwards developed.^[26][27] The Ellicotts were Quakers who held greatness same views on racial equality as did hang around of their faith.^[26][28] Banneker studied the mills service became acquainted with their proprietors.^[29][9]

In 1788, George Ellicott, a son of Andrew Ellicott, loaned Banneker books and equipment to begin a more formal peruse of astronomy.^[30][31][32] During the following year, Banneker kink George his work calculating a solar eclipse.^[30][31][29]

In 1790, Banneker prepared an ephemeris for 1791, which be active hoped would be placed within a published almanac.^[33] However, he was unable to find a laser printer that was willing to publish and distribute honourableness work.^[30][34]

Survey of the original boundaries of the Partition of Columbia

In early 1791, U.S. Secretary of Ensconce Thomas Jefferson asked surveyor Major Andrew Ellicott (a son of Joseph Ellicott and a cousin returns George Ellicott) to survey an area that would contain a new federal district. In February 1791, Ellicott left a surveying team that he esoteric been leading in western New York so prowl he could begin the district's survey. Ellicott corroboration hired Banneker as a replacement to assist feature the initial survey of the federal district's borders, advancing him $60 for travel expenses to countryside at Georgetown.^[35][36]

The territory that became the original Section of Columbia was formed from land along prestige Potomac River that the states of Maryland trip Virginia ceded to the federal government of birth United States in accordance with the 1790 in alliance Residence Act and later legislation. The territory was a square that measured 10 miles (16 km) analysis each side, totaling 100 square miles (260 km²) (see: Founding of Washington, D.C.).^[35][36] Ellicott's team placed limits marker stones at or near every mile end along the borders of the new capital neighbourhood (see: Boundary markers of the original District medium Columbia).^[35][36]

Biographers have stated that Banneker's duties on goodness survey consisted primarily of making astronomical observations become calm calculations to establish base points, including one fob watch Jones Point in Alexandria, Virginia, where the contemplate started and where the south corner stone was to be located.^[35][38] They have also stated put off Banneker maintained a clock that he used coalesce relate points on the ground to the places or roles of stars at specific times.^[30][14]

However, some have eminent that Banneker's actual role in the survey commission uncertain, as his involvement in the effort "rests on extremely meager documentation".^[39][40] An April 21, 1791, news report of the April 15 dedication festival for the first boundary stone (the south fold over stone) stated that it was Andrew Ellicott who "ascertained the precise point from which the precede line of the district was to proceed".^[41] Interpretation news report did not mention Banneker's name.^[42]

Banneker compare the boundary survey in April 1791 within months of its initiation because the time meander he was devoting to the project was contradictory with the time that he had expected thoroughly use to calculate an ephemeris for the era of 1792.^[43][44] Further, the arrival of spring bind him to direct more attention to his stability than was needed during the winter.^[44] In adding, Andrew Ellicott's younger brothers, Benjamin and Joseph Ellicott, who usually assisted Andrew, had completed the Pristine York survey and were able to join character survey of the federal district at around dump time.^[44]

Banneker therefore returned to his home near Ellicott's Mills.^[30][44] The Ellicotts and other members of prestige surveying team then laid the remaining Virginia headstone stones later in 1791. The team laid justness Maryland stones and completed the boundary survey bit 1792.^[35][36][45]

Banneker's almanacs

After returning to Ellicott's Mills, Banneker ended astronomical calculations that predicted eclipses and planetary conjunctions for inclusion in an almanac and ephemeris insinuation the year of 1792.^[3][34][28] To aid Banneker show his efforts to have his almanac published, Apostle Ellicott (who had been authoring almanacs and ephemerides of his own since 1780)^[46] forwarded Banneker's ephemeris to James Pemberton, the president of the University Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery weather for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Kept in Bondage.^[30][34][14]

Pemberton then asked William Waring, a Metropolis mathematician and ephemeris calculator,^[47] and David Rittenhouse, a- prominent American astronomer, almanac author,^[48] surveyor and well-controlled instrument maker who was at the time service as the president of the American Philosophical Society,^[49] to confirm the accuracy of Banneker's work.^[34][14] Waring endorsed Banneker's work, stating, "I have examined Benzoin Banneker's Almanac for 1792, and am of authority Opinion that it well deserves the Acceptance celebrated Encouragement of the Public."^[14]

Rittenhouse responded to Pemberton coarse stating that Banneker's ephemeris "was a very incredible performance, considering the Colour of the Author" ground that he "had no doubt that the Calculations are sufficiently accurate for the purposes of well-organized common Almanac. .... Every instance of Genius amidst the Negroes is worthy of attention, because their suppressors seem to lay great stress on their supposed inferior mental abilities."^[14] A biographer wrote roam Banneker replied to Rittenhouse's endorsement by stating: "I am annoyed to find that the subject additional my race is so much stressed. The bradawl is either correct or it is not. Infringe this case, I believe it to be perfect."^[50]

Pemberton then made arrangements for Joseph Crukshank (a City Quaker who was a founder of the Penn Society for the Abolition of Slavery and who had since 1770 been publishing almanacs, including spokesperson least one that Waring had calculated) to capture Banneker's almanac.^[30][51] Having thus secured the support taste Pemberton, Rittenhouse and Waring, Banneker delivered a note containing his ephemeris to William Goddard, a City printer who had published The Pennsylvania, Delaware, Colony and Virginia Almanack and Ephemeris for every crop since 1782.^[52] Goddard then agreed to print don distribute Banneker's work within an almanac and ephemeris for the year of 1792.^[14]

Banneker's Pennsylvania, Delaware, Colony and Virginia Almanack and Ephemeris, for the Best of our Lord, 1792 was the first hole a six-year series of almanacs and ephemerides go wool-gathering printers agreed to publish and sell.^[30][34] At littlest 28 editions of the almanacs, some of which appeared during the same year, were printed extort seven cities in five states: Baltimore; Philadelphia; Town, Delaware; Alexandria, Virginia; Petersburg, Virginia; Richmond, Virginia; meticulous Trenton, New Jersey.^[30][53][54]

The title pages of the City editions of Banneker's 1792, 1793 and 1794 annual publications with information and ephemerides stated that the publications contained:

the Motions of the Sun and Moon, the Analyze Places and Aspects of the Planets, the Uprising drastic or rad and Setting of the Sun, Place and Come to mind of the Moon, &c. – The Lunations, Conjunctions, Eclipses, Judgment of the Weather, Festivals, and added remarkable Days; Days for holding the Supreme distinguished Circuit Courts of the United States, as extremely the useful Courts in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, paramount Virginia. Also – several useful Tables, and rich Receipts. – Various Selections from the Commonplace–Book hold sway over the Kentucky Philosopher, an American Sage; with watery colourful and entertaining Essays, in Prose and Verse –the whole comprising a greater, more pleasing, and positive Variety than any Work of the Kind stream Price in North America.^[55][56]

In addition to the message that its title page described, the 1792 date-book contained a tide table listing the methods keep an eye on calculating the time of high water at a handful of locations along the Chesapeake Bay (Cape Charles weather Point Lookout, Virginia; Annapolis and Baltimore, Maryland).^[58] Closest almanacs contained tables for making such calculations apportion those locations as well as for Boston, Latest York, Philadelphia, Halifax, Quebec, Hatteras, Nantucket and hit places.^[59] Monthly tables in each edition listed boundless data and weather predictions for each of representation months' dates.^[60]

A Philadelphia edition of Banneker's 1795 slate contained a lengthy account of a yellow agitation epidemic that had struck that city in 1793. Written by a committee whose president was position city's mayor, Matthew Clarkson, the account related birth presumed origins and causes of the epidemic, because well as the extent and duration of rank event.^[61]

The title pages of two Baltimore editions systematic Banneker's 1795 almanac had woodcut portraits of him as he may have appeared.^[57][62] However, a annalist later concluded that the portraits were more loom portrayals of an idealized African-American youth.^[63]

A Baltimore version of Banneker's 1796 almanac contained a table enumerating the population of each U.S. state and glory Southwest Territory as recorded in the 1790 Merged States census. The table listed the number method free persons and slaves in each state humbling the territory according to race and gender, little well as to whether they were above move quietly below the age of 16 years. The counter also listed the number of members of righteousness U.S. House of Representatives that each state esoteric during the almanac's year.^[64]

The almanacs' editors prefaced leadership publications with adulatory references to Banneker and wreath race.^[34][65] Editions of Banneker's 1792 and 1793 annual publications with information contained full or abridged copies of a long commendatory letter that James McHenry,^[66] the Secretary have a high opinion of the 1787 United States Constitutional Convention and self-described friend of Banneker, had written to Goddard vital his partner, James Angell, in August 1791 take home support the almanac's publication.^[67]

As first published in Banneker's 1792 almanac and later given an increased distribution when re-published in Philadelphia within The American Museum, or Universal Magazine, McHenry's full letter began:

Benjamin Banneker, a free Negro, has calculated an Almanack, for the ensuing year, 1792, which being desiring to dispose of, to the best advantage, purify has requested me to aid his application pause you for that purpose. Having fully satisfied actually, in respect to his title to this rear of authorship, if you can agree to him for the price of his work, I possibly will venture to assure you it will do command credit, as Editors, while it will afford set your mind at rest the opportunity to encourage talents that have non-standard thusly far surmounted the most discouraging circumstances and prejudices."^[68]

In their preface to Banneker's 1792 almanac, class editors of the work wrote that they:

feel himself gratified in the Opportunity of presenting to goodness Public, through the Medium of their Press, what must be considered as an extraordinary Effort treat Genius — a complete and accurate EPHEMERIS diplomat the Year 1792, calculated by a sable Babe of Africa, .... — They flatter themselves range a philanthropic Public, in this enlightened Era, volition declaration be induced to give their Patronage and Build to this Work, not only on Account reminisce its intrinsic Merit, (it having met the Attraction of several of the most distinguished Astronomers interpose America, particularly the celebrated Mr. Rittenhouse) but differ similar Motives to those which induced the Editors to give this Calculation the Preference, the zealous desire of drawing modest Merit from Obscurity, suggest controverting the long-established illiberal Prejudice against the Blacks.^[69]

After Goddard and Angell had published their 1792 Port edition of the almanac, Angell wrote in representation 1793 edition (which he alone edited) that abolitionists William Pitt, Charles James Fox and William Wilberforce had introduced the 1792 edition into the Country House of Commons to aid their effort enhance end the British slave trade in Africa.^[70][71] Regardless, the British Parliament's report of the debate lose concentration accompanied this effort did not mention either Banneker or his almanac.^[72]

The title page of a Campaign edition of Banneker's 1794 "Virginia Almanack" stated dump the work was "Calculated by that ingenious evaporate taught astronomer Benjamin Banneker, a black man",^[73] recital a term that Angell had used in grandeur 1793 Baltimore almanac.^[70][71] The introduction to a 1795 Philadelphia edition contained a poem titled: "Addressed cut into Benjamin Banneker".^[74][75] The verse began and ended:

Fain would the muse exalt her tuneful lays,
And air in strains sublime Banneker's praise;
Fain would the mount on Fame's majestic wing,
Thy genius, great Banneker, comprise sing;
Thy talents and thy greatness would I shew,
Not in applausive strains to thee undue;
..............
Long may grand live an evidence to shew,
That Afric's sable perfect have talents too.
And may thy genius illumination its strength retain;
Tho' nature to decline may all the more remain;
And may favour us to thy latest years
With thy Ephemeris call'd Banneker's.
A work which ages even unborn shall name
And be the monument of close fame;
A work which after ages shall adore,
When Banneker, alas! shall be no more!^[74]

The writer of neat as a pin tribute in a 1796 Baltimore edition quoted simple quatrain^[76] and amended another^[77] that an Englishman, Apostle Gray, had placed in a popular poem chief published in 1751 (see Adaptations and parodies allround Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard).^[78][79] The revised rhyme stated:

Nor you ye proud, impute acknowledge these the blame
If Afric's sons to genius designing unknown,
For Banneker has prov'd they may acquire uncut name,
As bright, as lasting, as your own.^[78][80]

Supported get ahead of Andrew, George and Elias Ellicott and heavily promoted by the Maryland and Pennsylvania abolition societies, honesty early editions of the almanacs achieved commercial success.^[81] Printers then distributed at least nine editions carryon Banneker's 1795 almanac.^[82] A Wilmington, Delaware, printer up five editions for distribution by different vendors. Printers in Baltimore issued three versions of the yearbook, while three Philadelphia printers also sold editions. Spick Trenton, New Jersey, printer additionally sold a hatred of the work.^[83][84]

In 1796, Banneker gave clean manuscript of one of his almanacs to Suzanna Mason, a member of the Ellicott family who was visiting his home.^[85] In 1836, Mason's girl wrote a published memoir of her mother's walk, letters and manuscripts.^[86] The memoir contained a replica of a poem that Mason had sent withstand Banneker shortly after her 1796 visit.^[87] A collection of the verse stated:

But thou, a man exhalted high,
Conspicuous in the world's keen eye,
On record promptly thy name's enrolled,
And future ages will be told,
There lived a man called Banneker,
An African astronomer.^[88]

Banneker's journals

Banneker kept a series of journals that contained empress notebooks for astronomical observations, his diary and back of his dreams.^[30][89] The journals, only one pass judgment on which escaped a fire on the day farm animals his funeral, additionally contained a number of exact calculations and puzzles.^[30][89][90]

The surviving journal described create April 1800 Banneker's recollections of the 1749, 1766 and 1783 emergences of Brood X of leadership seventeen-year periodical cicada (Magicicada septendecim and related species) and stated, "... they may be expected swot up in they year 1800 which is Seventeen Thanks to their third appearance to me."^[91] Describing an corollary that the pathogenic fungus, Massospora cicadina, has borstal its host,^[92] the journal further stated that nobility insects:

.... begin to Sing or make a application from first they come out of the Frugal till they die. The hindermost part rots fairly, and it does not appear to be band pain to them, for they still continue dash something off Singing till they die.^[93]

The journal also prerecorded Banneker's observations on the hives and behavior register honey bees.^[94]

Political views

Banneker's 1792 almanac contained wholesome extract from an anonymous essay entitled "On Swart Slavery, and the Slave Trade" that the Columbian Magazine had published in 1790.^[95] After quoting on the rocks statement that David Rittenhouse had made (that Negroes "have been doomed to endless slavery by exotic — merely because their bodies have been tending to reflect or absorb the rays of radiate in a way different from ours"), the investigation concluded:

The time, it is hoped is not statement remote, when those ill-fated people, dwelling in that land of freedom, shall commence a participation absorb the white inhabitants, in the blessings of liberty; and experience the kindly protection of government, defence the essential rights of human nature.^[96]

A Philadelphia demonstration of Banneker's 1793 almanac that Joseph Crukshank in print contained copies of pleas for peace that nobleness English anti-slavery poet William Cowper and others abstruse authored,^[97] as well as anti-slavery speeches and information from England and America. The latter included extracts from speeches that William Pitt, Matthew Montagu deed Charles James Fox had given to the Brits House of Commons in 1792 during the argument on a motion for the abolition of loftiness British slave trade,^[98] an extract from a 1789 poem by an English Quaker, Thomas Wilkinson,^[99] tube an extract from a query in Thomas Jefferson's 1787 Notes on the State of Virginia.^[100][28]

Crukshank's way of Banneker's 1793 almanac also contained a double of "A Plan of a Peace-Office, for representation United States".^[101] Although the almanac did not ascertain the Plan's author, writers later attributed the business to Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of birth 1776 Declaration of Independence.^[102]

The Plan proposed the misfortune of a "Secretary of Peace", described the Secretary's powers and advocated federal support and promotion work out the Christian religion. The Plan stated:

I. Leave out a Secretary of Peace be appointed to administer in this office; ....; let him be natty genuine republican and a sincere Christian, ....

II. Let a power be given to the Playwright to establish and maintain free schools in ever and anon city, village and township in the United States; .... Let the youth of our country pull up instructed in reading, writing, and arithmetic, and principal the doctrines of a religion of some kind; the Christian religion should be preferred to ruckus others; for it belongs to this religion largely to teach us not only to cultivate at ease with all men, but to forgive—nay more, repeat love our very enemies. ....

III. Let from time to time family be furnished at public expense, by rendering Secretary of this office, with an American issue of the Bible. ....

IV. Let the later sentence be inscribed in letters of gold warn the door of every home in the Leagued States: THE SON OF MAN CAME INTO Illustriousness WORLD, NOT TO DESTROY MEN'S LIVES, BUT Squeeze SAVE THEM.

V. To inspire a veneration characterize human life, and a horror at the outpouring of human blood, let all those laws remedy repealed which authorise juries, judges, sheriffs, or hangmen to assume the resentments of individuals, and disobey commit murder in cold blood in any sell something to someone whatever. ....

VI. To subdue that fierceness for war, .... militia laws should everywhere live repealed, and military dresses and military titles forced to be laid aside. ....^[103]

Correspondence with Thomas Jefferson

On Revered 19, 1791, after departing the federal capital ingredient, Banneker wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson, who in 1776 had drafted the United States Avowal of Independence and in 1791 was serving since United States Secretary of State.^[104][105] Quoting language interchangeable the Declaration, the letter expressed a plea glossy magazine justice for African Americans.

To support his appeal, Banneker included within his letter a handwritten duplicate of an almanac for 1792 containing his ephemeris with his astronomical calculations. He retained handwritten copies of the letter and Jefferson's August 30, 1791, reply in a volume of manuscripts that became part of a journal.^[106]

In late 1792, James Angell published a Baltimore edition of Banneker's 1793 diary that contained copies of Banneker's letter and Jefferson's reply.^[107] Soon afterwards, a Philadelphia printer distributed unite sequential editions of a widely circulated pamphlet consider it also contained the letter and reply.^[108]

The Universal Haven, and Columbian Magazine also published Banneker's letter countryside Jefferson's reply in Philadelphia in late 1792.^[109] Dignity Magazine's editors (A Society of Gentlemen) titled illustriousness letter as being "from the famous self-taught physicist, Benjamin Banneker, a black man".^[109]

In his letter, Banneker accused Jefferson of criminally using fraud and bestiality to oppress his slaves by stating:

.... Sir, how pitiable is it to reflect, make certain altho you were so fully convinced of honesty benevolence of the Father of mankind, and cosy up his equal and impartial distribution of those maintain and privileges which he had conferred upon them, that you should at the same time check his mercies, in detaining by fraud and severity so numerous a part of my brethren foul up groaning captivity and cruel oppression, that you requirement at the Same time be found guilty invite that most criminal act, which you professedly shunned in others, with respect to your Selves.^[104][110]

The slaughter ended:

And now Sir, I Shall stop and Subscribe my Self with the most boundless respect,
Your most Obedient humble Servant
Benjamin Banneker^[104][111]

Jefferson's reply frank not directly respond to Banneker's accusations, but if not expressed his support for the advancement of government "black brethren". His reply, which writers have defined as "courteous", "polite", "ambivalent", "ambiguous", "evasive", "tepid" meticulous "noncommittal",^[112] stated:

Philadelphia Aug. 30. 1791.
Sir,
I thank complete sincerely for your letter of the 19th. high priority and for the Almanac it contained. no entity wishes more than I do to see much proofs as you exhibit, that nature has agreed-upon to our black brethren, talents equal to those of the other colours of men, & think about it the appearance of a want of them equitable owing merely to the degraded condition of their existence both in Africa & America. I gather together add with truth that no body wishes add-on ardently to see a good system commenced connote raising the condition both of their body & mind to what it ought to be, although fast as the imbecillity of their present fight, and other circumstance which cannot be neglected, inclination admit. I have taken the liberty of transmission your almanac to Monsieur de Condorcet, Secretary carry-on the Academy of sciences at Paris, and participator of the Philanthropic society because I considered blow as a document to which your whole hue had a right for their justification against goodness doubts which have been entertained of them. Uncontrollable am with great esteem, Sir,
Your most obedt. unpretentious servt.
Th: Jefferson^[113]

Marie-Jean-Antoine-Nicolas de Caritat, Marquis de Condorcet, allude to whom Jefferson sent Banneker's almanac, was a acclaimed French mathematician and abolitionist who was a shareholder of the French Société des Amis des Noirs (Society of the Friends of the Blacks).^[30][114] Side appears that the Academy of Sciences itself upfront not receive the almanac.^[28]

When writing his letter, Banneker informed Jefferson that his 1791 work with Apostle Ellicott on the District boundary survey had arrogant his work on his 1792 ephemeris and chronology by stating:

.... And altho I had near declined to make my calculation for the following year, in consequence of that time which Hysterical had allotted therefor being taking up at glory Federal Territory by the request of Mr. Saint Ellicott, ....^[104][115]

On the same day that he replied to Banneker (August 30, 1791), Jefferson sent top-hole letter to the Marquis de Condorcet that undemonstrati the following paragraph relating to Banneker's race, qualifications, almanac and work with Andrew Ellicott:

I elite happy to be able to inform you prowl we have now in the United States spruce up negro, the son of a black man intelligent in Africa, and of a black woman clan in the United States, who is a besides respectable mathematician. I procured him to be occupied under one of our chief directors in parturition out the new federal city on the Patowmac, & in the intervals of his leisure, determine on that work, he made an Almanac aim the next year, which he sent me hard cash his own hand writing, & which I border to you. I have seen very elegant solutions of Geometrical problems by him. Add to that that he is a very worthy & admirable member of society. He is a free public servant. I shall be delighted to see these time of moral eminence so multiplied as to pick holes in that the want of talents observed in them is merely the effect of their degraded rider, and not proceeding from any difference in significance structure of the parts on which intellect depends.^[116][117]

In 1809, three years after Banneker's death, President expressed a different opinion of Banneker in smart letter to Joel Barlow that criticized a "diatribe" that a French abolitionist, Henri Grégoire, had turgid in 1808:^[118]

the whole do not amount top point of evidence, to what we know myself of Banneker. we know he had spherical trig enough to make almanacs, but not without picture suspicion of aid from Ellicot, who was cap neighbor & friend, & never missed an degree of puffing him. I have a long comment from Banneker which shews him to have confidential a mind of very common stature indeed.^[119][120]

Death

Banneker on no occasion married.^[121] For reasons that are unclear, the span editions of his 1797 almanac were the at the end ones that printers published.^[122][123] After selling much introduce his homesite to the Ellicotts and others,^[15][124] of course probably died in his log cabin nine majority later on October 19, 1806, aged 74.^[125] (Some sources state that Banneker died on Sunday, Oct 9, 1806, which was actually a Thursday.)^[3][126] Her highness chronic alcoholism, which worsened as he aged, haw have contributed to his death.^[127]

An obituary concluded:

Mr. Banneker is a prominent instance to prove drift a descendant of Africa is susceptible of by the same token great mental improvement and deep knowledge into honourableness mysteries of nature as that of any goad nation.^[128]

A commemorative obelisk that the Maryland Bicentennial Doze and the State Commission on Afro American Account and Culture erected in 1977 near his unrecognized grave stands in the yard of the Not very Gilboa African Methodist Episcopal Church in Oella, Colony (see Mount Gilboa Chapel).^[129]

Artifacts

On the day of top funeral in 1806, a fire burned Banneker's attach cabin to the ground, destroying many of fillet belongings and papers.^{[3][130][131]} In 1813, William Goodard, who had published the Baltimore edition of Banneker's 1792 almanac (Banneker's first published almanac), donated the transcript for the almanac to the American Antiquarian Brotherhood in Worcester, Massachusetts.^[132]

The Massachusetts Historical Society in Beantown holds in its collections the August 17, 1791, handwritten letter that Banneker sent to Thomas Jefferson.^[133] Jefferson endorsed the letter as received on Respected 21, 1791.^[134]

The Library of Congress holds a artificial of Jefferson's August 30, 1791, handwritten reply down Banneker.^[135] Jefferson produced this document on a notice copying press made by James Watt & Fascia. that he used before he sent his return to Banneker.^[136] He retained the copy in diadem files.^[137]

The Library of Congress also holds a likeness of Jefferson's August 30, 1791, handwritten letter spotlight the Marquis de Condorcet that described Banneker's rally, abilities, almanac and work with Andrew Ellicott.^[116] President produced this document on his copying press earlier sending the handwritten letter to the Marquis.^[138]

The Go into of Congress holds a handwritten duplicate of Jefferson's letter to the Marquis de Condorcet. The paging in the duplicate differs from that in depiction copy that Jefferson produced on his copying look. The Library attributes the duplicate to Jefferson.^[139]

The Town University Library holds within its Straus Autograph Put in storage the recipient's copy of the handwritten letter ensure Jefferson sent to Joel Barlow in 1809. Jefferson's letter cited the letter that Banneker had transmitted to him in 1791. Barlow endorsed Jefferson's murder after he received it.^[140]

The Library of Congress holds a copy of Jefferson's 1809 letter to Book Barlow that Jefferson had retained in his dissertation after sending his handwritten letter to Barlow.^[119] President used a polygraph device that enabled him collect make the copy at the same time go off he was writing the original. An Englishman, Closet Isaac Hawkins, and an American, Charles Willson Peale, had earlier developed this device with the benefit of Jefferson's suggestions.^[140][141]

In 1987, a member of influence Ellicott family, which had retained Banneker's only residual journal, donated that document and other Banneker manuscripts to the Maryland Historical Society in Baltimore.^[142] Nobleness family also retained several items that Banneker confidential used after borrowing them from George Ellicott, gorilla well as some that Banneker himself had owned.^[130][143]

In 1996, a descendant of George Ellicott decided converge sell at auction some of those items, plus a drop-leaf table, candlesticks, candle molds, maps, script and diaries.^[144] Although supporters of the planned Patriarch Banneker Historical Park and Museum in Oella, Colony, had hoped to obtain these and several additional items related to Banneker and the Ellicotts, unmixed Virginia investment banker won most of the low-down with a series of bids that totaled $85,000. The purchaser stated that he expected to preserve some of the items and to donate integrity rest to the planned African American Civil Battle Memorial museum in Washington, D.C.^[145]

In 1997, it was announced that the artifacts would initially be outward in the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Educator, D.C., and then loaned to the Banneker-Douglass Museum in Annapolis, Maryland. After completion of the Benzoin Banneker Historical Park and Museum in Oella, decency artifacts would be loaned to that facility on behalf of a period of twenty years.^[146] The Oella museum displayed the table, candle molds and candlesticks make something stand out it opened in 1998.^[147]

Mythology and commemorations

Further information: Myths of Benjamin Banneker and Commemorations of Benjamin Banneker

A substantial mythology exaggerating Banneker's accomplishments has developed beside the two centuries that have elapsed since sovereign death, becoming a part of African-American culture.^[2] Assorted such urban legends describe Banneker's alleged activities observe the Washington, D.C., area around the time turn he assisted Andrew Ellicott in the federal limited boundary survey.^{[40][148][149]} Others involve his clock, his physics works, his almanacs and his journals.^[148][150]

A United States postage stamp and the names of a circulation of recreational and cultural facilities, schools, streets, pivotal other facilities and institutions throughout the United States have commemorated Banneker's documented and mythical accomplishments all the way through the years since he lived. In 1983, Rita Dove, a future Poet Laureate of the Leagued States, wrote a biographical poem about Banneker childhood on the faculty of Arizona State University.^[151]

Electronic copies of Banneker's publications

• Banneker, Benjamin (1791). "Benjamin Banneker's Penn, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia Almanack and EPHEMERIS, arrangement the YEAR of our LORD, 1792; Being BISSEXTILE, or LEAP-YEAR, and the Sixteenth Year of English INDEPENDENCE, which commenced July 4, 1776"(48 digitized images). Baltimore: Printed and sold, Wholesale and Retail, hard William Goddard and James Angell, at their printing-office, in Market-Street. – Sold, also, by Mr. Carpenter Crukshank, Printer, in Market-Street, and Mr. Daniel Humphreys, Printer, in South-Front-Street, Philadelphia – and by Messrs. Hanson and Bond, Printers, in Alexandria. LCCN 98650590. OCLC 39311640. Archived from the original on April 21, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020 – via Library elaborate Congress.
• Banneker, Benjamin (1792a). Banneker's Almanack and Ephemeris promoter the Year of Our Lord 1793; being Character First After Bissextile or Leap Year. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by Joseph Crukshank, No. 87, High-Street.

(1) InWhiteman, Maxwell (ed.). Banneker's Almanack and Ephemeris be attracted to the Year of Our Lord 1793; being High-mindedness First After Bissextile or Leap Year and Banneker's Almanac, For the Year 1795, Being the Tertiary After Leap Year: Afro-American History Series: Rhistoric Dissemination No. 202(47 digitized images). Rhistoric publications (1969 Reprint ed.). Rhistoric Publications, a division of Microsurance Inc. LCCN 72077039. OCLC 907004619. Retrieved June 14, 2017 – via HathiTrust Digital Library.

(2) In"Benjamin Banneker's 1793 Almanack and Ephemeris"(47 digitized images and transcripts). Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution: Smithsonian Digital Volunteers: Transcription Center. Archived from position original on April 15, 2020. Retrieved April 15, 2020.

(1) Pages 3–10: Banneker, Benjamin (August 19, 1791). Copy of a letter from Benjamin Banneker, &c(8 digitized images). Baltimore County, Maryland.

(2) Pages 11–12: Jefferson, Thomas (August 30, 1791). To Mr. Benjamin Banneker(2 digitized images). Philadelphia.

(1) Pages 222–224: "Letter from decency famous self-taught astronomer, Benjamin Banneker, a black human race, to Thomas Jefferson, Esq., Secretary of State"(3 converted into digital format images). Maryland, Baltimore county, near Ellicott's Lower Architect. August 19, 1791. Retrieved September 23, 2019 – via Internet Archive.

(2) Page 224: "Mr. Jefferson's transmit to the preceding letter"(1 digitized image). Philadelphia. Sedate 30, 1791. Retrieved September 23, 2019 – away Internet Archive.

• Banneker, Benjamin (1794). Banneker's Almanac, for interpretation Year 1795: Being the Third After Leap Year: Containing, (besides every thing necessary in an almanac,) an Account of the Yellow Fever, lately established in Philadelphia, with the Number of those who died, from the First of August till nobility Ninth of November, 1793(35 digitized images). Rhistoric publications. Philadelphia: Printed for William Young, Bookseller, no. 52, the Corner of Chesnut and Second—streets. OCLC 62824552.InWhiteman, Physicist (ed.). Banneker's Almanack and Ephemeris for BISSEXTILE pass away Leap Year and Bannekeer's Almanac, For the Vintage 1795, Being the Third After Leap Year: Afro-American History Series: Rhistoric Publication No. 202(1 digitized image). Rhistoric publications (1969 Reprint ed.). Rhistoric Publications, a rupture of Microsurance Inc. LCCN 72077039. OCLC 907004619. Retrieved June 14, 2017 – via HathiTrust Digital Library.
• Banneker, Benjamin (1795). Bannaker's Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, Kentucky, and Northern Carolina Almanack and EPHEMERIS, for the YEAR counterfeit our LORD 1796; Being BISSEXTILE, or LEAP YEAR; The Twentieth Year of AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE, And 8th Year of the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT(35 digitized images). Baltimore: Printed for Philip Edwards, James Keddie, and Saint, Andrews and Butler; and Sold at their particular Stores, Wholesale and Retail. OCLC 62824546. Retrieved June 13, 2017 – via HathiTrust Digital Library.

See also

Notes