Famous Authors of the Era

Anne Bradstreet

Phillis Wheatley

Anne Bradstreet is remembered as the first poet and the first female writer in the colonies. Born in 1612, Bradstreet never attended school, but was instead tutored by her father. She made the move to America in 1630 with her husband and parents. Her poetry was very popular as soon as it was published. Even King George III is thought to have kept copies of Bradstreet's poetry in his library.

Phillis Wheatley was born in Senegal and sold into slavery at age 8. Her owners, John and Susanna Wheatley, recognized how intelligent Phillis was and educated her in the ways of reading and writing. Phillis published her first piece of poetry at age 12 in the "Newport Mercury." Phillis travelled to London in 1773 to promote her newly published poetry book, "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral." Phillis Wheatley died in Boston in 1784 as the second published African-American and the first published African American woman.