Benjamin Banneker
Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806) was a noted American school, largely self-taught, who became both a surveyor and an astronomer.
As a surveyor, Banneker was a member of the commission that defined the boundary line and laid out the streets of the District of Columbia.
As an astronomer, he accurately predicted a solar eclipse in 1789. From 1791 until his death he published almanacs containing not only information on astronomy and tide tables, but also such diverse subjects as insect life and medicinal products. Banneker's almanacs included ideas that were far ahead of their time, for example the formation of a Department of the Interior and even an organization like the United Nations.
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