Existing comment:
Phillis Wheatley c. 1753–1784
Born The Gambia, Africa
Phillis Wheatley was the first African American to publish a book, no small feat considering that she came to the colonies as a slave. Although most slaves weren't taught to read, within two years of her purchase in 1761 by the Wheatleys, a Boston merchant family, she had gained a wide-ranging education and had begun to write poetry. Her book Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral (1773), published in London, drew the praise of Washington, Franklin, and Voltaire. It was dedicated to another admirer, the Countess of Huntingdon, who requested a frontispiece portrait. The engraving of Wheatley, emphasizing her demure appearance and creative intelligence, marked the first time the portrait of a colonial American woman was published alongside her writing. The young prodigy traveled to England, captivating London society. Her endorsement by abolitionist English supporters helped her gain her freedom. Her book was republished twice in England and appeared in multiple American editions.
Unidentified artist
Engraving, 1773 |