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Phillis Wheatley, born in 1753, was an African-American poet and one of the most influential figures in early American literature. Despite being born a slave in West Africa and transported to America, Wheatley’s exceptional talent and intellect allowed her to rise above the limitations imposed by her social status and achieve international recognition as a writer. Her poems, deeply rooted in classical literature and themes of spirituality, justice, and freedom, served as a powerful voice for the abolitionist movement and challenged societal perceptions of race and gender. In this introductory piece, we will delve into Wheatley’s life, her remarkable achievements in the face of adversity, and the lasting impact of her poetry on American literature.
(1753-1784)
Who Was Phillis Wheatley?
Poet Phillis Wheatley was brought to Boston, Massachusetts, on an enslaved person ship in 1761 and was purchased by John Wheatley as a personal servant to his wife. The Wheatleys educated Phillis and she soon mastered Latin and Greek, going on to write highly acclaimed poetry. She published her first poem in 1767 and her first volume of verse, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, in 1773. Having been freed from slavery, she later married and struggled financially, with Wheatley unable to find a publisher for her second volume of poems.
Early Years
A pioneering African American poet, Wheatley was born in Senegal/Gambia around 1753. At the age of eight, she was kidnapped and brought to Boston on an enslaved person ship. Upon her arrival, John Wheatley purchased the young girl, who was in fragile health, as a servant for his wife, Susanna.
Under the family’s direction, Wheatley (who, as was the custom at the time, adopted her master’s last name) was taken under Susanna’s wing. Her quick intelligence was hard to miss, and as a result, Susanna and her two children taught Wheatley to read and was actively encouraged in her literary pursuits by the household.
Wheatley received lessons in theology, English, Latin and Greek. Ancient history was soon folded into the teachings, as were lessons in mythology and literature. At a time when African Americans were discouraged and intimidated from learning how to read and write, Wheatley’s life was an anomaly.
Historical Achievement as Published Poet
Wheatley wrote her first published poem at around age 13. The work, a story about two men who nearly drown at sea, was printed in the Newport Mercury. Other published poems followed, with several also being published, further increasing Wheatley’s fame.
In 1773, Wheatley gained considerable stature when her first and only book of verse, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, was published, with the writer having received patronage from Selina Hastings, the Countess of Huntingdon, in England. As proof of her authorship, the volume included a preface in which 17 Boston men, including John Hancock, asserted that she had indeed written the poems in it.
Poems on Various Subjects is a landmark achievement in U.S. history. In publishing it, Wheatley became the first African American and first U.S. enslaved person to publish a book of poems, as well as the third American woman to do so.
A strong supporter of America’s fight for independence, Wheatley penned several poems in honor of the Continental Army’s commander, George Washington. Wheatley sent one of said works, written in 1775, to the future president, eventually inspiring an invitation to visit him at his headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Wheatley accepted the offer and visited Washington in March of 1776.
Struggles in Later Life
Wheatley had traveled to London to promote her poems and received medical treatment for a health ailment that she had been battling. After her return to Boston, Wheatley’s life changed significantly. While ultimately freed from slavery, she was devastated by the deaths of several Wheatley family members, including Susanna (d. 1774) and John (d. 1778).
In 1778, Wheatley married a free African American from Boston, John Peters, with whom she had three children, all of whom died in infancy. Their marriage proved to be a struggle, with the couple battling constant poverty. Ultimately, Wheatley was forced to find work as a maid in a boarding house and lived in squalid, horrifying conditions.
Wheatley did continue to write, but the growing tensions with the British and, ultimately, the Revolutionary War, weakened enthusiasm for her poems. While she contacted various publishers, she was unsuccessful in finding support for a second volume of poetry.
Death
Wheatley died in her early 30s in Boston, Massachusetts, on December 5, 1784.
QUICK FACTS
- Name: Phillis Wheatley
- Birth Year: 1753
- Birth Country: Senegal
- Gender: Female
- Best Known For: After being kidnapped from West Africa and enslaved in Boston, Phillis Wheatley became the first African American and one of the first women to publish a book of poetry in the colonies in 1773.
- Industries
- Fiction and Poetry
- Death Year: 1784
- Death date: December 5, 1784
- Death State: Massachusetts
- Death City: Boston
- Death Country: United States
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CITATION INFORMATION
- Article Title: Phillis Wheatley Biography
- Author: Biography.com Editors
- Website Name: The Biography.com website
- Url: https://www.biography.com/authors-writers/phillis-wheatley
- Access Date:
- Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
- Last Updated: May 3, 2021
- Original Published Date: April 2, 2014
QUOTES
- Through thickest gloom look back, immortal shade, On that confusion which thy death has made.
In conclusion, Phillis Wheatley was a remarkable and influential figure in American literature, paving the way for future African American writers. Through her powerful and eloquent poetry, she challenged societal norms and prejudices, proving that intelligence and talent were not limited by one’s race or gender. Wheatley’s works showcased her deep faith, love for her country, and desire for freedom and equality. Despite facing immense adversity and criticism, she persevered and left a lasting legacy. Though her life was tragically cut short, her contributions to the literary world and the fight for social justice will never be forgotten. Phillis Wheatley’s remarkable journey from slavery to literary prominence serves as a testament to the indomitable human spirit and serves as an inspiration for generations to come.
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