Black Man Who Designed Washinton DC And Invented The Clock [Benjamin Banneker]
October 03, 2020 1489
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No one contributed more to the building of
America than the black man. By the works of their hands, labor, ingenuity, and
suffering, Black people made America great. Although the American and world
educational system does little in recognizing these contributions, we take
pride in teaching the scientific, architectural, and social achievements of men
such as Benjamin Banneker.
In the Stevie Wonder song “Black Man,” the
Motown star sings of Benjamin Banneker: “first clock to be made in America was
created by a black man.”
Though the song is a fitting salute to a
great inventor (and African Americans in general), it only touches on the genius of Benjamin Banneker and the many hats he wore – as a farmer,
mathematician, astronomer, author, and land surveyor.
Like a lot of early inventors, Benjamin
Banneker was primarily self-taught. The son of former slaves, Benjamin worked
on the family tobacco farm and received some early education from a Quaker
school. But most of his advanced knowledge came from reading, reading and more
reading.
At 15 he took over the farm and invented an
irrigation system to control water flow to the crops from nearby springs. As a
result of Banneker’s innovation, the farm flourished – even during droughts.
But it was his clock invention that really
propelled the reputation of Benjamin Banneker. Sometime in the early 1750s,
Benjamin borrowed a pocket watch from a wealthy acquaintance, took the watch
apart, and studied its components.
After returning the watch, he created a
fully functioning clock entirely out of carved wooden pieces. The clock was
amazingly precise and would keep on ticking for decades. As a result of the
attention his self-made clock received, Banneker was able to start up his own
watch and clock repair business.
Benjamin Banneker a Multi-Genius
Benjamin Banneker’s accomplishments didn't
end there. Borrowing books on astronomy and mathematics from a friend, Benjamin
engorged himself in the subjects. Putting his new-found knowledge to use,
Banneker accurately predicted a 1789 solar eclipse.
In the early 1790s, Benjamin Banneker added
another job title to his resume – author. Benjamin Benjamin compiled and
published his Almanac and Ephemeris of Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland (he
would publish the journal annually for over a decade), and even sent a copy to
the secretary of state Thomas Jefferson along with a letter urging the
abolition of slavery.
Impressed by his abilities, Jefferson
recommended Benjamin Banneker to be a part of a surveying team to layout
Washington, D.C. Appointed to the three-man team by president George
Washington, Benjamin Banneker wound up saving the project when the lead
architect quit in a fury – taking all the plans with him.
Using his meticulous memory, Benjamin
Banneker was able to recreate the plans. Wielding knowledge like a sword,
Benjamin Banneker was many things – inventor, author, scientist, anti-slavery
proponent – and, as a result, his legacy lives on to this day.