Banneker

I have a long letter from Banneker, which shows him to have had a mind of very common stature indeed.

This interest led George Ellicott to lend Banneker a number of mathematical books and instruments.

The meeting with the Ellicotts was of signal advantage to Banneker, and ultimately proved the turning point in his career.

It was, therefore, as a free man that he became the husband of Mary Banneker, whose surname he adopted for his own.

Banneker lived, however, eight years longer than he thought he would, but Ellicott faithfully lived up to this contract.