1784 Phillis Wheatly
Updated: Oct 14
"Last Lord's Day died Phillis Peters, formerly Phillis Wheatly. Known to the literary world by her celebrated miscellaneous poems."
Phillis Wheatley was born in May of 1753 in West Africa. She was kidnapped in 1761, at the age eight, sold as a slave in Boston. She died in Boston, Massachusetts in December of 1784. She was just 31 years old when she passed away. She is considered the first African-American author of a published book of poetry.
In 1776 she sent a letter to then President George Washington, sending him a poem she had written praising his leadership. She shared with the president that she sent it personally to him, rather than having it published in the newspaper, as was common at that time, to avoid accusations of vanity. President Washington wrote her back thanking her for the poem and complimented her on her writing talent. He went to write "You are to whom nature has been so liberal and beneficent in her dispensations, and so favored by the muses". President Washington instructed his staff to arrange publication of the patriotic poem in the Virginia Gazette. He also invited her to visit him in Cambridge.
In contrast, Thomas Jefferson dismissed Miss Wheatly and her writings stating, "black people lacked imagination, reflection and original art."
The newspaper was certainly lacking in obituary, the contributions. Perhaps, at the time, she was not yet famous.
Phillis Wheatley was honored with a statue in Boston, Mass. She is one of several women included in the Boston Women's Memorial. She has also graced the cover of one of my own books.
If you would like to read the writings of Phillis Wheatley I recommend this:
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