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In honor of Black History month,
Banneker Watch and Clock Company’s CEO and founder,
Derrick M. Holmes, presented Bishop Loughlin with a
beautiful clock. Mr. Holmes started Banneker several
years ago and it is the only black-owned watch and clock
company in the world. He named his company after
Benjamin Banneker, considered America’s first
African-American intellectual.
Benjamin Banneker was born in 1731.
His father was a former slave. He was mostly self-
taught, yet his accomplishments were widely known and
admired.
- He made the
first all wooden clock in America after taking apart
a pocket watch to study its workings. His wooden
clock kept perfect time for 50 years.
- In 1789 he
successfully predicted a solar eclipse surprising
better-known mathematicians who got it wrong.
- He was a member
of the team that surveyed the land and layed out the
capital of the United States, Washington D.C.
- From 1791 to
1802 he published an almanac that included
astronomical information, listed the tides, and
included information about medicines.
- He wrote a
letter to Thomas Jefferson chastising him for the
hypocrisy of claiming all men are equal while
keeping slaves. He continued to work for racial
equality.
We would like to thank Russ
Williams, Mr. Ring Man, for recommending Bishop Loughlin
to Mr. Holmes, who designed the clock himself. An
interesting fact: all Banneker watches have wooden faces
in honor of Benjamin Banneker and his wood clock.
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