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Benjamin Banneker, Lifelong Learner

Benjamin Banneker was a farmer, scientist, writer and more. Though his parents were once enslaved, Banneker grew up as a free man in the American state of Maryland. Throughout his life, he taught himself many skills and used them to help people.

Banneker did much of his learning outside the classroom. His grandmother taught him to read at a young age, and he loved books. Around age fourteen, he had to leave school to work on his family’s farm. But Banneker continued to educate himself after that. For example, he taught himself how to make a clock by taking apart a pocket watch. And he borrowed books from friends to learn more about maths and the movements of the stars and planets. Banneker later used these skills to help his country.

In 1791, Banneker travelled to Washington, D.C., to help design the capital of the United States. He helped plan where all the streets and important buildings would go. His work can still be seen today in the city of Washington, D.C.

Banneker also shared what he learned with others. He studied the stars and used his findings to write an almanac. An almanac is a book with lots of useful facts for farmers, including when the sun will rise and set each day. Almanacs also tell about holidays, the tides and the dates of full moons. Banneker wrote six different almanacs over the years.