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Born
Phillis Wheatley was born on this day in West Africa. -
Kidnapped
She was kidnapped from her home by slave traders and transported to American aboard The Phillis. -
Arrived in America
The ship reached America in July of 1761 and Phillis was then sold to John wheatley from Boston, Massachusetts to work as a maid to his wife Susanna. Phillis was baptized and given the name Phillis. -
Getting an Education
Phillis was curious about learning how to read book and learn to speak English. She was taught to read and write by Susanna and her daughter Mary Wheatley. -
Beginning to Write
She wrote "An Adress to an Athiest" and "An Adress to the Deist." And her first poem was published in the Newport Mercury. -
Praising the King
She wrote "To the King's Most Excellent Majesty" praising King George for repealing the Stamp Act. -
Becoming Well-Known
Phillis became well known for her poetry whenever she wrote a tribute to George Whitefield. -
Defending Her Work
She went to work to defend herself from the accusation that her poems were not her own work. Seventeen men in Boston flung accusations. Those men included John Hancock, John Ervin, Thomas Hutchinson, and Andrew Oliver. -
Traveling to London
The Countess of Huntingdon was her sponsor. She went to London where her first book, "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral" was published. It was the second book ever written by a woman, and the first ever to be written by a black woman. -
George Washington
She wrote a poem prasing George Washington's heroism and her support of the Revolutionary War. "To His Excellency, George Washington." -
Invitation
George Washington invited Phillis to his home for a private reading and to get the opportunity to thank her for the poem. -
Free At Last
John Wheatley, Phillis' master died. Phillis gained her freedom. She also married a John Peters, a free black man, and had 3 children with him. -
Death
She wrote a poem about a reverend and a doctor. "An Elegy, Sacred to the Memory of the Great Divine, the Reverend and the Learned Dr. Samuel Cooper." She wrote this not long before her death. Her husband was incarcerated for having too many unpaid debts. Phillis found work in a boardinghouse. On She died on December 5th at the age of 31.