Who was a major contributor in the layout of the U.S. capitol Washington D.C., after the French surveyor L'Enfant, stormed off?

Benjamin Banneker was born on November 9, 1731, in Ellicott's Mills, Maryland. A free black man who owned a farm near Baltimore, Banneker was largely self-educated in astronomy and mathematics. He was later called upon to assist in the surveying of territory for the construction of the nation's capital. He also became an active writer of almanacs and exchanged letters with Thomas Jefferson, politely challenging him to do what he could to ensure racial equality. Banneker died on October 9, 1806.

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22 Comments

Carolyn Brior

This question suffers from a common spelling error. The answer has the correct spelling, "capital", meaning the seat of government. In other words-Washington, DC. The question has "capitol" which is the spelling defined by Thomas Jefferson for the building where the US Congress meets. Thus, the US Capitol is a building in the US capital.

Owen Tucker

I have visited Ol’Benjamin’s place outside Baltimore. It was very nice. His grandma could read but stole some milk .. the rest was history.

Michelle Mitchell

krkyates, he was a free African American. He was born to a free African American woman. The child follows the status of the mother. I have family that was free and they were from Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

Philip Selleck

This comment from a historical source, but the same in many others: " because of unwarranted claims to the contrary, it must be pointed out that there is no evidence whatever that Banneker had anything to do with the survey of the Federal City or indeed with the final establishment of the boundaries of the Federal District. All available testimony shows that he was present only during the few weeks early in 1791 when the rough preliminary survey of the ten mile square was made; that, after this was concluded and before the final survey was begun, he returned to his farm and his astronomical studies in April, accompanying Ellicott part way on his brief journey back to Philadelphia; and that thenceforth he had no connection with the mapping of the seat of government. ..."

Mary Parham

Thank you so much for this question. Fascinating piece of history.

Ruth

Had not heard about this man, going to read more about him

jaijam

It's always the one you've never heard of.

Annie

Knew this

Sean Case

Wow , I'm not racist but according to Spider-Man:Homecoming , it sounds like Banneker was just as resist as the men who enslaved his brothers & sisters! Then again , Hollywood only wants to provoke , not provide solutions!

ninakamwene

No idea

Paul Backus

Larry Pappy Love Capital can apply to either the building or the city itself. Like here in Salem we are the capital and we have a building with a gold statue on top which is the capital building.

Larry Pappy Love

Check your research. Banneker was on the team assigned to survey the District of Columbia not capitol which is the building itself. He left the team due to health issues 3 months before the project was finished.