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Benjamin Banneker: Surveyor, Astronomer, Publisher, Patriot
The first biography of a major figure in early US and African American historyA household name and unparalleled hero revered in every African American household, Benjamin Banneker was a completely self-taught mathematical genius who achieved professional status in astronomy, navigation, and engineering. His acknowledged expertise and superior surveying skills led to his role as coworker with the Founding Fathers in planning our nation's capitol, Washington, DC. His annual Banneker's Almanac was the first written by a black and outsold the major competition. In addition, he was a vocal force in the fight for the abolition of slavery. Yet, despite his accomplishments, there has been no biography of this important man--until now. Written by an author with strong ties across the Washington-Maryland-Virginia area where abolitionist societies revered Banneker, this long overdue biography at last gives the hard-earned attention this prominent hero and his accomplishments deserve.
272 pages, ebook
First published July 1, 2002
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February 4, 2025
Benjamin Banneker is one of the pre-eminent scientists in American history – making it all the more unfortunate that, even in an era of increasing multicultural awareness, biographies of this brilliant African-American intellectual from Baltimore County, Maryland, have been few and far between. How fortunate, then, that Washington, D.C., writer Charles Cerami published in 2002 this short biography – Benjamin Banneker: Surveyor, Astronomer, Publisher, Patriot. The biography, like its title, captures well the variety and magnitude of Banneker’s achievements.
From the beginning, Cerami emphasizes both Banneker’s anomalous status as a free African American in slaveholding Maryland, and the manner in which Banneker’s genius quickly and repeatedly made itself apparent. A watch, lent to him by a friend, not only led the young Banneker to profound reflections upon the nature of time itself, but also encouraged him to take apart the watch, reassemble it, and then use the knowledge that he had gained to construct a clock of his own, made entirely from wood:
After drawing a careful design of how the watch’s parts fitted together, then taking it completely apart and studying the mathematical ratios of the gearwheels to each other, he had his strategy for making a large clock whose seconds, minutes, and hours exactly paralleled those of the watch. It would all be made from wood, the one material to which he had easy access and that he could fabricate without the problems caused by miniaturization. (p. 50)
This story captures the extraordinary nature of Banneker’s achievements – he had very little formal education, and yet his abilities as both a theoretical mathematician and a practical engineer were truly profound.
Cerami later chronicles the important change in Banneker’s life when the Ellicott family, progressive-minded Quakers, moved into the Patapsco Valley region of Maryland, and established the mill that once bore their name, and the city that still does. The Ellicotts provided Banneker with a reliable market for the produce of his farm; more important, they offered intellectual companionship and support for Banneker’s ideas, with race playing no role in their high regard for him.
Banneker was attracted to the American Revolutionary cause, in large part because he thought that the new United States of America would mark its freedom from British tyranny by ending the tyranny of slaveholding. When the U.S.A. did not do so, Banneker was deeply disappointed:
While taking into account the issues the leaders would have faced in tackling the issue head-on, he thought they had missed the best moment for declaring an end to slavery. It would really have been easier, he felt, to abolish the hideous practice immediately at the time of victory, while a glow of satisfaction might have softened the anger of the slave owners. As the victory of 1781 became nearly a decade old, he recognized that his belief in the founders had been betrayed. But he tried not to give way to his furious disappointment too soon, still hoping that a great decision on the issue would finally emerge. (pp. 101-02)
In spite of the contradictions of living in a new nation declaring that “all men are created equal” while still holding a great many men, women, and children in bondage, Banneker continued to display his brilliance and genius in all sorts of ways. When President George Washington assigned Major Andrew Ellicott the task of surveying the boundaries of the new District of Columbia, Major Ellicott promptly selected Banneker as his assistant. Banneker was assiduous in completing the painstaking work of astronomical observations that would ensure that the survey was conducted accurately, with no extra land being taken from the states of Maryland and Virginia that had donated land for the nation's capital.
Near the home where I grew up in Bethesda, Maryland, Westmoreland Circle is home to two of the old boundary stones that mark the Maryland/D.C. line. I know that from now on, when I drive by those boundary stones, I will think of Banneker and his great achievement.
Banneker also achieved fame and distinction through his publication of an almanac that sold thousands of copies and was widely praised for its scientific accuracy. The fact that the author was an African American did not interfere with its success: “Many persons bought it as a curiosity and then marveled at its quality and told their friends that it was simply a fine almanac, regardless of who composed it. Beyond the calculations, they liked the reading matter and the personality of the man behind it….[F]or the time he lived in, Benjamin Banneker had become a well-known figure” (p. 152).
Banneker also saw, in the publication and success of his almanac, abundant evidence of the simple truth that African Americans were every bit as capable of intellectual achievement and success as people of any other racial or cultural background. When scientist David Rittenhouse, in a well-meaning if somewhat clumsy way, tried to praise Banneker’s almanac by calling it “a very extraordinary performance, considering the colour of the Author”, Banneker replied with some asperity, “I am annoyed to find that the subject of my race is so much stressed….The work is either correct or it is not. In this case, I believe it to be perfect” (p. 150).
Banneker made an even bolder statement of his beliefs in human equality, sending a copy of his almanac to Thomas Jefferson, then Secretary of State in the Washington Administration. Banneker praised Jefferson as “measurably friendly and well disposed” toward the African-American community, and at the same time made unmistakably clear why he had wanted Jefferson to have a copy of the Banneker almanac -- because it provided a practical demonstration that the Creator of all human beings “hath also without partiality afforded us all with the Same Sensations, and endued us all with the same faculties” (p. 164).
It was a bold movement, given the depth of racism in those times, and considering the swiftness with which racist whites often moved – violently, if necessary – to blot out any evidence of African Americans' talent, ability, and achievement. Cerami, who reprints the letter in full, aptly calls it Banneker’s “Declaration of Indignation.” Jefferson responded courteously if ambiguously to Banneker’s letter; on the other hand, his slighting description in a letter to a friend regarding Banneker’s abilities does Jefferson no credit.
After Banneker passed away in 1806, a fire, almost certainly set by arsonists, destroyed his home on the day of his funeral. The wooden clock was burned to ashes, along with countless papers and artifacts that would have enhanced not only our understanding of Banneker’s life and work but also human knowledge generally. But no fire can wipe out the record of Banneker’s achievements. Today, the site of Banneker’s home in Baltimore County is a museum that honors Banneker’s legacy. But if a visit to the Baltimore area is not convenient for you, Cerami’s book provides a concise, well-written look at the life of this great scientist and great American.
From the beginning, Cerami emphasizes both Banneker’s anomalous status as a free African American in slaveholding Maryland, and the manner in which Banneker’s genius quickly and repeatedly made itself apparent. A watch, lent to him by a friend, not only led the young Banneker to profound reflections upon the nature of time itself, but also encouraged him to take apart the watch, reassemble it, and then use the knowledge that he had gained to construct a clock of his own, made entirely from wood:
After drawing a careful design of how the watch’s parts fitted together, then taking it completely apart and studying the mathematical ratios of the gearwheels to each other, he had his strategy for making a large clock whose seconds, minutes, and hours exactly paralleled those of the watch. It would all be made from wood, the one material to which he had easy access and that he could fabricate without the problems caused by miniaturization. (p. 50)
This story captures the extraordinary nature of Banneker’s achievements – he had very little formal education, and yet his abilities as both a theoretical mathematician and a practical engineer were truly profound.
Cerami later chronicles the important change in Banneker’s life when the Ellicott family, progressive-minded Quakers, moved into the Patapsco Valley region of Maryland, and established the mill that once bore their name, and the city that still does. The Ellicotts provided Banneker with a reliable market for the produce of his farm; more important, they offered intellectual companionship and support for Banneker’s ideas, with race playing no role in their high regard for him.
Banneker was attracted to the American Revolutionary cause, in large part because he thought that the new United States of America would mark its freedom from British tyranny by ending the tyranny of slaveholding. When the U.S.A. did not do so, Banneker was deeply disappointed:
While taking into account the issues the leaders would have faced in tackling the issue head-on, he thought they had missed the best moment for declaring an end to slavery. It would really have been easier, he felt, to abolish the hideous practice immediately at the time of victory, while a glow of satisfaction might have softened the anger of the slave owners. As the victory of 1781 became nearly a decade old, he recognized that his belief in the founders had been betrayed. But he tried not to give way to his furious disappointment too soon, still hoping that a great decision on the issue would finally emerge. (pp. 101-02)
In spite of the contradictions of living in a new nation declaring that “all men are created equal” while still holding a great many men, women, and children in bondage, Banneker continued to display his brilliance and genius in all sorts of ways. When President George Washington assigned Major Andrew Ellicott the task of surveying the boundaries of the new District of Columbia, Major Ellicott promptly selected Banneker as his assistant. Banneker was assiduous in completing the painstaking work of astronomical observations that would ensure that the survey was conducted accurately, with no extra land being taken from the states of Maryland and Virginia that had donated land for the nation's capital.
Near the home where I grew up in Bethesda, Maryland, Westmoreland Circle is home to two of the old boundary stones that mark the Maryland/D.C. line. I know that from now on, when I drive by those boundary stones, I will think of Banneker and his great achievement.
Banneker also achieved fame and distinction through his publication of an almanac that sold thousands of copies and was widely praised for its scientific accuracy. The fact that the author was an African American did not interfere with its success: “Many persons bought it as a curiosity and then marveled at its quality and told their friends that it was simply a fine almanac, regardless of who composed it. Beyond the calculations, they liked the reading matter and the personality of the man behind it….[F]or the time he lived in, Benjamin Banneker had become a well-known figure” (p. 152).
Banneker also saw, in the publication and success of his almanac, abundant evidence of the simple truth that African Americans were every bit as capable of intellectual achievement and success as people of any other racial or cultural background. When scientist David Rittenhouse, in a well-meaning if somewhat clumsy way, tried to praise Banneker’s almanac by calling it “a very extraordinary performance, considering the colour of the Author”, Banneker replied with some asperity, “I am annoyed to find that the subject of my race is so much stressed….The work is either correct or it is not. In this case, I believe it to be perfect” (p. 150).
Banneker made an even bolder statement of his beliefs in human equality, sending a copy of his almanac to Thomas Jefferson, then Secretary of State in the Washington Administration. Banneker praised Jefferson as “measurably friendly and well disposed” toward the African-American community, and at the same time made unmistakably clear why he had wanted Jefferson to have a copy of the Banneker almanac -- because it provided a practical demonstration that the Creator of all human beings “hath also without partiality afforded us all with the Same Sensations, and endued us all with the same faculties” (p. 164).
It was a bold movement, given the depth of racism in those times, and considering the swiftness with which racist whites often moved – violently, if necessary – to blot out any evidence of African Americans' talent, ability, and achievement. Cerami, who reprints the letter in full, aptly calls it Banneker’s “Declaration of Indignation.” Jefferson responded courteously if ambiguously to Banneker’s letter; on the other hand, his slighting description in a letter to a friend regarding Banneker’s abilities does Jefferson no credit.
After Banneker passed away in 1806, a fire, almost certainly set by arsonists, destroyed his home on the day of his funeral. The wooden clock was burned to ashes, along with countless papers and artifacts that would have enhanced not only our understanding of Banneker’s life and work but also human knowledge generally. But no fire can wipe out the record of Banneker’s achievements. Today, the site of Banneker’s home in Baltimore County is a museum that honors Banneker’s legacy. But if a visit to the Baltimore area is not convenient for you, Cerami’s book provides a concise, well-written look at the life of this great scientist and great American.
August 22, 2019
The life of Benjamin Banneker is a hidden gem in American history. He lived from 1731 to 1806, spending almost his entire life in what is now the outskirts of Baltimore, Maryland. He was a free black man, the grandson of immigrants. Molly Welsh was a milkmaid convicted of theft for accidentally kicking over a bucket of milk. Her death sentence was commuted to indentured servitude in the colonies when she proved that she could read. She served her seven years and then became an independent farmer. She bought a slave named Banneka to help with the tobacco farm she was starting in Maryland. She later freed and married Banneka. Benjamin Banneker (there's no clear reason why the name changed) was the eldest son of their daughter Mary. The family farm was on the outskirts of Elkridge Landing, a port serving the Patapsco River area, feeding into the Chesapeake Bay and eventually the Atlantic Ocean. Baltimore was just forming as a major regional port. Benjamin was taught reading at young age and became a voracious reader. Any time he could find something new to read, he would read it. He also loved to look at the stars and to come up with math problems.
As he grew up, he managed the family farm and still took time to read and contemplate the world and even the cosmos. He knew the great horrors experienced by Africans brought to America as slaves and kept a low profile. He became friends with the Ellicotts, a Quaker family that invested heavily in mills near Elkridge Landing, hoping to shift the local economy away from tobacco and to wheat they could mill into flour. Banneker was fascinated by the mill machinery and was able to discuss a wide variety of topics with the Ellicotts, who loaned him many books. At one point, another friend loaned Banneker a pocket watch for a few weeks. Benjamin's natural curiosity led him to open the watch and examine the workings' minute details. He drew diagrams and was able to make a wooden clock on a larger scale but with the same proportions and design as the pocket watch. The clock worked accurately for over fifty years. His mechanical ability was amazing.
As he grew older, he was chosen by Andrew Ellicott to help in surveying the new nation's capital. Thanks to Banneker's astronomical interest, he increased the precision of the surveying team. He was also interested in writing an almanac--a book of astronomical and seasonal information coupled with weather predictions, words of wisdom, and practical advice. His great effort paid off. Many of the local publishers had abolitionists as customers. Those abolitionists encouraged the publishers to take on the almanac as a sign that Africans were just as intellectually capable as Europeans. The almanac was a success and he published additional almanacs in subsequent years.
Banneker also sent his first almanac to Thomas Jefferson with a pointed letter demanding Jefferson be more true to his writings, especially the famous phrase "all men are created equal." Jefferson sent a polite but non-commital response (a standard politician's move), promising to send the almanac on to an academy in France that was also interested in the issue of equality. With both the almanac and the correspondence with Jefferson, Banneker became a much more public figure. His contented life as a gentleman farmer became a little more precarious as occasional threats came to his home.
He died in 1806 and his cabin with almost all of his personal journals and works (including the clock) burned down the day of his funeral. No investigation was made though it's highly probable that pro-slavery bigots wanted to destroy evidence of Banneker's accomplishments. And so he faded into history with only a recent local resurgence in the past forty or fifty years.
This book gives a good overview of his life with the historical context. Many personal details are included and a full picture of the man develops. My only criticism is that the author is admiring to the point of over-enthusiasm. Certainly Banneker was a genius and an inspiring example of a self-made man, but claiming he would have been an Einstein or a Hawking is a higher assessment than the text shows. Even so, Banneker was a great man and deserves to be better known by his fellow countrymen.
Recommended.
As he grew up, he managed the family farm and still took time to read and contemplate the world and even the cosmos. He knew the great horrors experienced by Africans brought to America as slaves and kept a low profile. He became friends with the Ellicotts, a Quaker family that invested heavily in mills near Elkridge Landing, hoping to shift the local economy away from tobacco and to wheat they could mill into flour. Banneker was fascinated by the mill machinery and was able to discuss a wide variety of topics with the Ellicotts, who loaned him many books. At one point, another friend loaned Banneker a pocket watch for a few weeks. Benjamin's natural curiosity led him to open the watch and examine the workings' minute details. He drew diagrams and was able to make a wooden clock on a larger scale but with the same proportions and design as the pocket watch. The clock worked accurately for over fifty years. His mechanical ability was amazing.
As he grew older, he was chosen by Andrew Ellicott to help in surveying the new nation's capital. Thanks to Banneker's astronomical interest, he increased the precision of the surveying team. He was also interested in writing an almanac--a book of astronomical and seasonal information coupled with weather predictions, words of wisdom, and practical advice. His great effort paid off. Many of the local publishers had abolitionists as customers. Those abolitionists encouraged the publishers to take on the almanac as a sign that Africans were just as intellectually capable as Europeans. The almanac was a success and he published additional almanacs in subsequent years.
Banneker also sent his first almanac to Thomas Jefferson with a pointed letter demanding Jefferson be more true to his writings, especially the famous phrase "all men are created equal." Jefferson sent a polite but non-commital response (a standard politician's move), promising to send the almanac on to an academy in France that was also interested in the issue of equality. With both the almanac and the correspondence with Jefferson, Banneker became a much more public figure. His contented life as a gentleman farmer became a little more precarious as occasional threats came to his home.
He died in 1806 and his cabin with almost all of his personal journals and works (including the clock) burned down the day of his funeral. No investigation was made though it's highly probable that pro-slavery bigots wanted to destroy evidence of Banneker's accomplishments. And so he faded into history with only a recent local resurgence in the past forty or fifty years.
This book gives a good overview of his life with the historical context. Many personal details are included and a full picture of the man develops. My only criticism is that the author is admiring to the point of over-enthusiasm. Certainly Banneker was a genius and an inspiring example of a self-made man, but claiming he would have been an Einstein or a Hawking is a higher assessment than the text shows. Even so, Banneker was a great man and deserves to be better known by his fellow countrymen.
Recommended.
April 20, 2023
It is an injustice that Benjamin Banneker's life and accomplishments are not more widely known. I grew up near Ellicott City; not sure when I first heard of Banneker, but I really was only aware that he surveyed the boundaries of Washington DC, without understanding the astronomical and mathematical skills needed to do this. Or to produce the ephemeris for his almanac, or why this was so valuable to people at that time. With scarce original materials to work with, the author did a great job of making reasonable inferences to illustrate the important ideas. This should be required reading in Maryland schools, imo.
November 12, 2025
Mostly stream of consciousness in these 200+ pages regarding what we do not know of Benjamin Banneker's story.
Horribly, Banneker's home and most of his writings were burned down, so little is known of him apart from writings by a contemporary of his, which I plan to read next.
Horribly, Banneker's home and most of his writings were burned down, so little is known of him apart from writings by a contemporary of his, which I plan to read next.
July 30, 2020
I have read many books about African Americans but I had not heard of this man. Brilliant man that led a rather solitary life but contributed much to our country!
October 14, 2009
I picked up this book because Benjamin Banneker is such an interesting historical figure. I didn't finish the book though. It seemed to be made up of a lot of conjecture, without the historical record to back it up. Based on the available record, I think the book would be much shorter, but at least factually based.
July 14, 2018
A children's book giving the reader an important role model. Ben was all 4 things listed above. Learn how he bought property in what is now nowadays Baltimore at age 6. How he built a clock out of self made US parts and understanding gained from European text book to understand math and the star. How he parleys that into the city design tasks associated with the city of Washington, DC.
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June 10, 2017The first chapter is so sad,enslaved black people. Benjamin is a real genius, it's really sad that he's not quite popular in America.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews