Phillis Wheatley

Also known as Phillis Wheatley Peters, Phillis Peters, Philis Wheatley

first African-American poet (1753–1784)

Key facts

Born: c. 1753 , West Africa
Died: December 5, 1784 (1784-12-05) (aged 31), Boston , Massachusetts
Occupation: Poet
Language: English
Period: American Revolution
Notable works: Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral (1773)
Spouse: John Peters
Children: Uncertain. Up to three with none surviving past early childhood.

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Instance of: human
Gender: female
Citizenship: United States
Place of birth: Senegambia
Place of death: Boston
Occupation: writer
Languages spoken: Latin
Religion: Congregational churches
Field of work: poetry
Image: Houghton AC85.Aℓ245.Zy773w - Wheatley, frontispiece - cropped.jpg
Residence: Boston

Show 14 more facts

Commons category: Phillis Wheatley
date of birth: 1753-05-08
date of death: 1784-12-05
ethnic group: African Americans
cause of death: puerperal disorders
writing language: English language
Commons Creator page: Phillis Wheatley
archives at: Library of Congress
start of work period: 1767-00-00
place of burial: Copp's Hill Burying Ground
P8168: Test Pilot
name in native language: Phillis Wheatley
time period: American Revolution
manner of death: natural causes

Sources (12)

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Encyclopedic overview

Phillis Wheatley Peters, also spelled Phyllis and Wheatly (c. 1753 – December 5, 1784), was an American writer who is considered the first African-American author of a published book of poetry. Born in West Africa, she was sold into slavery at the age of seven or eight and transported to North America, where she was bought by the Wheatley family of Boston. After she learned to read and write, they encouraged her poetry when they saw her talent.

On a 1773 trip to London with the Wheatleys' son, seeking publication of her work, Wheatley met prominent people who became her patrons. The publication in London of her Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral on September 1, 1773, brought her fame both in England and the American colonies. Prominent figures, such as George Washington, praised her work. A few years later, African-American poet Jupiter Hammon praised her work in a poem of his own.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Phillis Wheatley” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.