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She was born some time in 1753, the date is unknown.
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She was made a slave at 7 years old, she was on a slave ship named Phillis
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At the age of eight, she was sold to wealthy Bostonian merchant and tailor John Wheatley, who bought the young girl as a servant for his wife, Susanna.
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The family's 18 year old daughter started teaching Phillis math and to read
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Wheatley wrote "To the King's Most Excellent Majesty" in which she praised George III for repealing the Stamp Act.
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Wheatley wrote a poetic tribute to George Whitefield that received widespread acclaim
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Wheatley had to defend her literary ability in court because white people didn't think an African American could read and write
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She was sent to London with Nathaniel Wheatley to recover her health.
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She published a poem celebrating George Washington entitled, “To His Excellency George Washington.”
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Washington invited Wheatley to his home as thanks for the poem and Thomas Paine republished the poem in the Pennsylvania Gazette as a result of Wheatley’s audience with Washington.
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African American poet Jupiter Hammon wrote an ode to Wheatley.
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Wheatley was legally freed from the bonds of slavery when her master John Wheatley died.
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Wheatley married John Peters, a free black grocer
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John Peters was imprisoned for debt
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Wheatley died alone on December 5, 1784, at age 31. Her infant son died three and a half hours after her death.
