Benjamin Banneker: A Man of Exceptional Accomplishment

(Catonsville Patch) Drive a few minutes west of Catonsville and into the quiet community of Oella, and you will find a small gem of a museum and a staff deeply committed to telling the story of an amazing local man who dedicated himself to a life of discovery.
The son of an ex-slave, he sought to teach by his own example that a man can achieve whatever he wishes, regardless of the circumstances of his birth. He was a self taught astronomer, clock maker, mathematician, surveyor and successful farmer at a time in this country's history when African-Americans could be legally considered property, just as farm implements or livestock would be. Continued