Overview

Phillis Wheatley Peters was kidnapped from West Africa as a child, enslaved in Boston, and became an internationally known poet. Her 1773 book was the first volume of poetry by an African American to be published, and her writing intersected with Revolutionary politics and public debate.

Quick Facts

• Birth: c. 1753, West Africa (exact birthplace unknown)
• Death: December 5, 1784, Boston, MA
• Identity (Race): Black woman
• Enslavement Status: Enslaved in Boston (Wheatley household); later emancipated (timing varies by source)
• Occupation / Primary Role: Poet; writer
• Allegiance / Affiliation: Revolutionary-era literary figure; corresponded with George Washington (1775)
• Military Role / Rank: None
• Education: Educated within Wheatley household (remarkable literacy; details vary)
• Religion: Christian themes in poetry (denomination not always specified)
• Spouse: John Peters (married 1778)
• Children: Reported in some accounts; documentation limited and details vary
• Enslaver: Wheatley family (Boston)
• Did She Enslave Anyone?: No evidence
• Language: English

Poster Bullets

• First published African American poet; book published in London in 1773.
• Her poems circulated in Revolutionary print culture (newspapers, sermons, pamphlets).
• Wrote to George Washington in 1775; major references document their exchange.

Poster Summary

Wheatley’s life shows Black intellect and artistry inside the Revolution’s public sphere, even as slavery persisted.

Why She Matters

Her publication challenged racist assumptions about Black intelligence and provides a primary window into Revolutionary-era Black authorship.

What Happened After the War

She married John Peters and faced severe financial hardship. She died young in 1784; a planned second volume was never published.

QR – Adult Read More

Wheatley’s 1773 publication forced educated readers in Britain and America to grapple with a Black author’s mastery of genre, theology, and political allusion.

Fame did not mean safety. Her life remained precarious, shaped by race, gender, and the economics of print culture.

Her 1775 letter to Washington positioned her within the era’s language of liberty, even as her own life reflected bondage and constraint.

For Franklin 250, Wheatley reminds us that the Revolution was fought in words and public imagination too, and Black voices were present in that arena.

QR – Kids

Phillis Wheatley wrote poems during the time of the American Revolution. Her book was famous, even though she had been enslaved.

Something You May Not Know

• Her first book was published in London in 1773.
• Museums hold editions connected to her published work.
• She became famous but still faced poverty and discrimination.

Common Misconceptions

Misconception: Published fame meant security. Reality: Wheatley faced hardship and died young despite international recognition.

Connection to Franklin / Somerset / NJ

Her work circulated in the same Revolutionary print culture that reached NJ, shaping debates about liberty and identity.

Primary Artifacts & Proof

Library of Congress – Phillis Wheatley (Today in History): https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/september-01

George Washington’s Mount Vernon – Phillis Wheatley Peters: https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/phillis-wheatley

NMAAHC – Poems on Various Subjects (artifact entry): https://nmaahc.si.edu/object/nmaahc_A2021.113.1.19