Phillis Wheatley was born in Senegal around 1753. When she was eight years old, she was kidnapped and brought to Boston on an enslaved person ship. When she arrived in Boston, she was purchased by John Wheatley (whose last name she adopted, as was the custom) as a servant for his wife, Susanna.

The family quickly noticed Phillis’ quick intelligence, so Susanna and her two children taught Phillis to read and write. She later received lessons in theology, English, Latin, and Greek, as well as ancient history, mythology, and literature.

Wheatley’s first published poem was written around age 13. It was a story about two men who nearly drown at sea, and was printed in the Newport Mercury. Several other published poems followed, and Wheatley’s name soon became known.

Her biggest writing accomplishment was her book of verse, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral which was published in 1773. The preface of the book included proof of authorship from 17 Boston men, including John Hancock, eventual signer of the Constitution. She became the first African American, and only the third American woman, to publish a book of poems.

Wheatley was a strong supporter of America’s fight for independence and wrote several poems in honor of George Washington. She was able to meet him in March of 1776 after he read one of her poems about him and invited her for a visit.

Wheatley was ultimately freed from slavery, but was impacted greatly when Susanna Wheatley died in 1774 and John Wheatley following in 1778. Not only was she devastated emotionally, but poverty soon struck. She married John Peters in 1778 and had three children with him, but the couple were in constant poverty. Wheatley was forced to find work as a maid in a boarding house, and she lived in horrible conditions. She continued to write, but the growing tensions, and eventually, the Revolutionary War with the British greatly weakened interest in her poems. She contacted various publishers in England, but was never able to publish her second volume of poetry.

Phillis Wheatley died in Boston, Massachusetts on December 5, 1784. She was in her early 30s.