B is for Banneker
Benjamin Banneker
by Tony
Benjamin Banneker was born in 1731. His mother
and grandmother were both married to slaves.
Benjamin was very smart. When he was about
20 someone lent him a pocket watch. He carefully
took it apart, studying how each piece worked.
Then he build at totally wooden clock. He was an
inventor, mathematician, and author. He helped
LaFant’ design Washington D.C. Because he had a
photographic memory he was able to draw the plans
from memory when LaFant’ left the project unfinished.
Benjamin Banneker died in 1806.