phillis wheatley
by eli murraye
early life
- Phillis Wheatley was born in 1753
- at the age of eight, she was sold to the wealthy Boston merchant and tailor John Wheatley, who bought the young girl as a servant for his wife Susanna
- The Wheatleys' 18 year old daughter Mary first tutored Phillis in reading and writing
- Phillis Wheatley began to write poetry
- At the age of 14, she wrote her first poem
later life
- In 1773, at the age of 20, Phillis accompanied Nathaniel Wheatley to London in part for her health, but also because Susanna believed she would have a better chance publishing her poetry there
- Her husband John Peters was imprisoned for debt in 1784
- Wheatley died on December 5, 1784, at the age of 31
- Her infant son died three and a half hours after her death
her poetry
"To the King's Most Excellent Majesty"
places
she has an community center named after her