Historical Profile: Benjamin Banneker

Benjamin Banneker (November 9, 1731 – October 9, 1806) was born in Baltimore County, Maryland.  Banneker’s mother was a free black and his father was a freed slave from Guinea.  Although Banneker had little formal education he became well-known for his knowledge of astronomy and his political correspondence with Thomas Jefferson.

Banneker’s greatest accomplishment was being a member of the team that surveyed the original borders of Washington, D.C.  This team was led by Major Andrew Ellicott.  Banneker’s astronomical knowledge helped him to write a series of almanacs.  Banneker’s almanacs were printed in Baltimore; Philadelphia; Wilmington, Delaware; and Richmond, Virginia.

On August 19, 1791, Banneker wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson.  In the letter, Banneker advocated for the abolishment of slavery in the American colonies.  Banneker wrote: “Sir, how pitiable is it to reflect, that although you were so fully convinced of the benevolence of the Father of mankind, and of his equal and impartial distribution of those rights and privileges which he had conferred upon them, that you should at the same time counteract his mercies, in detaining by fraud and violence so numerous a part of my brethren under groaning captivity and cruel oppression, that you should at the same time be found guilty of that most criminal act, which you professedly detested in others, with respect to your selves.”