Benjamin Banneker
...grandmother about the bible as a lesson book. There was no school for the boys to attend in the valley. But one summer a Quaker school teacher came to live in the valley and he set up a school for boys. Benjamin attended this school. Benjamin, being the schoolmaster that he was, changed the spelling of his name to Banneker. At school, Benjamin learned to write and do simple arithmetic. When Banneker turned twenty one he saw a patent watch. The watch belonged to a man named Joseph Levi. Banneker was absolutely fascinated with the watch. He had never seen anything like it. Levi gave Banneker his watch. This changed his life. Banneker took the watch apart to see how it worked. he carved similar watch pieces out of wood and made a clock of his own. It was the first striking clock to be made completely in America. Banneker's clock was so accurate that it struck every hour, on the hour, for forty years. His work allowed him to repair watches, clocks, and sundials. Banneker also helped Joseph Ellicott to build a complex clock. They became close friends, and Banneker grew a relationship with the Ellicott brothers. They lent Banneker books on astronomy and mathematics and also instruments to observe the stars. Banneker taught himself astronomy and advanced mathematics. Banneker's parents died and left him the farm since his sisters married and moved away. Banneker built his own work cabin with a skylight to study the stars and make calculations. Working alone with few visitors. He compiled results which he publishe in his almanac. Banneker got a job working with t...