Benjamin Banneker Benjamin Banneker was a phenomenal African-American mathematician, astronomer, and inventor. He was born near Baltimore, Md., on November 9, 1731. He was the son of a slave and a free black woman. He grew up as a free black, and while attending school he demonstrated early mathematical ability. His childhood curiosity led him to explore a wide variety of other subjects. In about 1771, he began to make calculations in the field of astronomy. In the science of astronomy, Banneker was entirely self-taught. He wanted to find answers to his questions about the mysterious movements of the stars and cycles of the moon. In colonial times, most families owned an alma