Benjamin Banneker was born in Maryland on November 9, 1731. He is often known as the “First African American Scientist.” He built a working wooden clock that kept accurate time and struck the hours for over 50 years. Banneker studied astronomy and he published an almanac. “Benjamin Banneker’s Almanac” was a top seller from Pennsylvania to Virginia and even into Kentucky from 1792 to 1797.
In 1791, Banneker helped survey the land which is now known as Washington, D.C.
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