African American Authors

Jupiter Hammon

Oct 17, 1711

Jupiter Hammon was born into slavery on Long Island, New York.

Birth of Venture Smith

Jun 15, 1729

Venture Smith, originally named Broteer Furro, was born somewhere in West Africa to a prince who had several wifes.

Birth of Phillis Wheatly

Jun 15, 1753

Phillis Weatly is born in West African. However, her exact birth date is not known.

Briton Hammon is Published

Jun 15, 1760

Briton Hammon publishes The Narrative of the Uncommon Sufferings and Surprizing Deliverance of Briton Hammon, a Negro Man in Boston. It is one of the oldest known African American autobiographies.

An Evening Thought- Jupiter Hammon

Dec 25, 1760

Jupiter Hammon's poem "An Evening Thought. Salvation by Christ with Penitential Cries" is published and he becomes the first known published African American writer in America.

Venture Smith is Free!

Jun 15, 1765

Venture Smith is finally able to buy his own freedom for seventy-one pounds and two shillings.

Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral

Jun 15, 1773

Phillis Wheatly publishes Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral in London.

Phillis Wheatly Dies

Dec 5, 1784

Phillis Wheatly dies from child birth complications at the age of 31.

Birth of David Walker

Sep 28, 1785

David Walker was born a free man in Wilmington, North Carolina to an enslaved father and free mother.

George Horton is Born

Jun 15, 1797

George Moses Horton is born into slvery on a tabacco farm in Chatham County, North Carolina.

Maria Stewart Born

Jun 15, 1803

Maria Stewart is born in Hartford, Connecticut.

Venture Smith Dies

Oct 9, 1805

Venture Smith dies in Haddam Neck, Connecticut on his own farm.

Jupiter Hammon's Death

Jun 15, 1806

Although the exact date of Jupuer Hammon's death is unknown, it is known that he died before 1806

Martin R. Delany Born

May 6, 1812

Martin R. Delany is born to a free mother and enslaved father in Charles Town, West Virginia. Because his mother is free he is bor free. However, when he was young, people tried to enslave him, his mother, and his sister. Thankfully, his mother was able to fight for their freedom though.

Frances E. W. Harper is Born

Sep 24, 1825

Frances E. W. Harper is born in Baltimore, Maryland to free parents. However, her mother dies when she is three years old and she was then raised by her aunt and uncle.

George Horton is Published

Jun 15, 1829

Horton's first collection of poetry, The Hope of Liberty, is published.

Robert A. Young Publishes Ethiopian Manifesto

Jun 15, 1829

Robert A. Young Publishes Ethiopian Manifesto

Appeal To the Coloured Citizens of the World

Sep 15, 1829

David Walker's Appeal To the Coloured Citizens of the World was published by a Boston printer. A price was put on his head by southern slave owners.

David Walker's Death

Jun 28, 1830

David Walker dies in Charlestown, MA a few months before his yongest son was born.

Frances Harper Publishes

Oct 9, 1854

Harper's second book Poems on Miscellaneous Subjects is published. Her first book, Forest Leaves, was published in 1845 but has been lost.

Martin Delany Travels to Liberia and London

May 15, 1859

Martin Delany travels to Liberia in order to start a new black nation. However his plans never worked out. After leaving Liberia, he went to London and as honored by the International Statistical Congress.

Maria Stewart Dies

Dec 17, 1879

Maria Stewart dies in Washington DC.

George Horton Dies

Jun 15, 1883

Horton dies in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he moved to after the Civil War.

Martin R. Delany Dies

Jan 24, 1885

Martin R. Delany dies of tuberculosis in Charleston.

Frances Harper Dies

Feb 22, 1911

Frances Harper Dies