B1,+Berry,+Samantha,+Benjamin+Banneker

**Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806)** ** "The color of the skin is in no way connected with strength of the mind or intellectual powers."~ Benjamin Banneker **

** About Benjamin Banneker: ** -Benjamin Banneker was born in Maryland on November 9, 1731, into a family of former slaves that had purchased their freedom. He grew up on a family farm where there wasn't any education until a Quaker moved in and started a school for boys where Benjamin excelled greatly. He worked on the farm for the rest of his childhood until he was 21 and discovered something great, Josef Levi's watch.

** Banneker's Work: ** -After receiving the watch from Josef, Benjamin repeatedly took it apart and put it back together. He started carving similar watch pieces into wood and then created his own wooden clock, the first clock to be made in the United States. He then continued repairing watches and clocks until he discovered astronomy.

**Banneker's Work with the Stars:** -His new fascination was in the sky. His friends the Elicott brothers had lent him books about astronomy and mathematics where he accomplished teaching himself.

**Banneker's Work After:** -Soon after, Banneker was predicting solar and lunar eclipses. He then wrote almanacs which he sent to Thomas Jefferson who published them into a popular item. - Benjamin also surveyed for the Federal District working with L'Enfant the architect, until L'Enfant left the job due to his frustration. Benjamin recreated the plans from memory in a matter of two days saving the team from having someone else design the capital.

** Timeline: **
 * 1731- Benjamin was born **
 * 1752- Benjamin receives the watch from Josef and creates his own **
 * 1791- Benjamin surveys the "Federal District" **
 * 1792- Benjamin's first almanac is published **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">1806- Benjamin dies **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">1980- U.S. Postal Service issued a postage stamp in his honor **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Work Cited:**

"Who Was Benjamin Banneker?" The Banneker Center for Economic Justice. 13 Nov. 2011. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">< //http://www.progress.org/banneker/bb.html//>

"Benjamin Banneker." Benjamin Banneker. 13 Nov. 2011. //<http://library.thinkquest.org/3337/banneker.html#>//

"Benjamin Banneker." Wikipedia- Benjamin Banneker. 13.Nov. 2011. //<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Banneker>//

"Benjamin Banneker Quotes." Brainy Quotes. 13. Nov. 2011. //<http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/b/benjamin_banneker.html>//