Person
Phillis Wheatley
c. 1753 – 1784
Known for First African American to publish a book of poetry
Boston poet — the first African American, and second woman, to publish a book of poetry in the colonies. She sent George Washington a poem in October 1775; he replied that it showed her "great poetical Talents" and met her in person at his Cambridge headquarters in March 1776, talking for about half an hour, then arranged for the poem to be published.