Benjamin+Banneker

Benjamin Banneker
Benjamin Banneker was born November 9, 1731, in Baltimore County. Banneker was the first African-American to be appointed by the president to work for the government. Banneker was appointed by President George Washington. He helped design the layout of Washington D.C. When he first came to Washington, it was a swampy forest. Living there were panthers, turkeys, and wolves. Maryland and Virginia had agreed to give up part of their land to create Washington D.C. A neighbor of Banneker, George Ellicott, said that his cousin, Andrew Ellicott, a surveyor, looked through Banneker’s astronomical calculations and thought Banneker was smart and would make a good assistant surveyor. While Banneker was assisting Ellicott in surveying, Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson recommended that Banneker help map out Washington. He agreed and became a successful surveyor. Banneker had many hobbies. His hobbies included playing flute and violin, making two almanacs, he was the first African American scientist, was an astronomer, a farmer, a mathematician, and a watchmaker. Sadly, Banneker died on October 9, 1806. In all, Benjamin Banneker lived a full and productive life!

By Sophie