Phillis is a variant of Phyllis — from the Greek phyllon (leaf, foliage). **Phillis Wheatley (c. 1753-1784)** — **enslaved African American woman who in 1773 became the first African American author of a published book of poetry — *Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral***, published in London after Boston publishers refused. **Kidnapped from West Africa as a child of about 7, enslaved by John and Susanna Wheatley of Boston who recognized her gifts and taught her to read English, Latin, and Greek**; she was reading classical literature within 16 months of her arrival. **George Washington wrote her a letter of thanks in 1776 for a poem composed in his honor**. **Manumitted (freed) on the publication of her book; died in poverty at about 31**. **Her surviving 145 poems are foundational to African American literature**.
Subject of Vincent Carretta's *Phillis Wheatley: Biography of a Genius in Bondage* (2011).
Phillis reduces to four — the number of first published African American poet.