Embark on a thrilling journey through eight astonishing facts about Thomas Fuller (1710-1790), the enslaved mathematical genius known as the Virginia Calculator. Discover his mental triumphs that defied the shackles of slavery.Â
1. The Virginia Calculator’s Mystifying Beginning
Meet Thomas ‘Negro Tom’ Fuller, a mathematical genius born in 1710. His captivating journey unfolds against the backdrop of enslavement in the United States, earning him the moniker ‘Virginia Calculator.’
2. A Stolen Childhood: Abduction at Age Fourteen
Imagine being torn from your homeland at the tender age of fourteen. Thomas endured this heart-wrenching reality when slave traders snatched him from Africa, setting the stage for a life that would defy expectations.
3. Bound for Virginia: Sold to a Plantation Owner
Thomas found himself in the hands of a Virginia plantation owner after being sold by slavers. Little did he know, the skills cultivated in his African homeland would become the foundation for his extraordinary abilities.
4. Roots of Genius: Arithmetic in West Africa
Before his abduction, Thomas immersed himself in arithmetic under the guidance of African schoolteachers. These skills became his secret weapon, allowing him to tackle complex calculations that astonished those around him.
5. The Virginia Calculator’s Feat: Complex Calculations Unleashed
Thomas Fuller, the Virginia Calculator, effortlessly solved the most complex mathematical calculations within minutes, earning widespread acclaim.
6. Mind Over Paper: Mental Math Marvel
Reach deep within yourself and step into Thomas’ extraordinary mind. He performed intricate calculations without the aid of pen and paper. What if you could do the same? What if you could mentally solve within minutes or seconds calculations unknown to even the greatest of minds? Like Thomas, you, too, would defy the conventions of time.
7. Challenge Accepted: Thomas Stuns Critics
Picture the scene as two white men from Pennsylvania challenge Thomas with seemingly impossible questions. Without hesitation, Thomas astounded them by mentally unraveling numbers at record speed.
8. Triumph of the Mind: Thomas Fuller’s Defining Moment
In a showdown against white rivals, Mr. Thomas Fuller faced a daunting challenge. The men from Pennsylvania told him to calculate – How many seconds old is a man who is 70 years, 17 days, and 12 hours? In a minute and a half, Thomas answered 2,210,500,800.
The men smirked at what they saw to be the incorrect response, but not too quickly, LOL:) Because Thomas considered leap years, his response was accurate, and observers applauded his accomplishment!
Thomas Fuller is a true marvel who turned adversity into an extraordinary legacy. 💥
http://www.math.buffalo.edu/mad/special/fuller_thomas_1710-1790.html