Benjamin Banneker was an incredible person who did amazing things a long time ago. Born on November 9, 1731, he was a self-taught genius in math and astronomy. He learned all these tough subjects on his own!

Even as a kid, Benjamin was very smart. When he was just 15 years old, he took care of his family’s farm and even made a special system to bring water to the crops. This was super important because it helped the plants grow better.

One of the coolest things Benjamin did was build the first clock in America in the 1750s. Imagine making a clock from scratch without anyone teaching you how! This clock wasn’t just any clock; it showed everyone how talented Benjamin was.

Later, when people were planning the city where the President of the United States would live, Benjamin played a big role. After the main person in charge left, Benjamin helped map out the area for what would become the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. That’s a pretty big deal!

Benjamin also wrote books called Almanacs that were very popular. These books had lots of information about the stars and the weather, which was useful for farmers and many others.

Something really special about Benjamin was that he believed in fairness for everyone. He even wrote letters to Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson helped create the United States. In the letters, he talked about how slavery was wrong. He also said everyone should be treated equally. This was a brave thing to do at a time when not everyone believed in equality.

Benjamin Banneker was truly a remarkable person. His story teaches us that with hard work and determination, you can achieve great things. It doesn’t matter where you come from or what challenges you face. He showed the world the power of intelligence and the importance of treating all people fairly.