Born in 1731, Benjamin Banneker was a self-taught mathematician, astronomer, and surveyor at a time when most Black Americans were denied formal education. Despite these barriers, his intellectual abilities earned him national recognition.In 1791, Banneker assisted Major Andrew Ellicott, the surveyor appointed by President George Washington, in surveying the land for the new U.S. capital. His work relied on precise astronomical calculations, which were used to establish the city’s original boundary lines and fix survey points with accuracy.When portions of the original survey were disrupted or lost, Banneker’s calculations helped re-establish key measurements. This work was essential in laying the physical groundwork for what would become Washington, D.C.He later became known for publishing widely read almanacs and for his correspondence with Thomas Jefferson, in which he challenged Jefferson’s views on race and equality.Benjamin Banneker’s contribution is a reminder that Black scientific knowledge was present at the founding of the United States—even when history failed to fully acknowledge it.