Anne Bradstreet (1612 - 1672) was America’s first poet. Married at sixteen to Simon Bradstreet, who later became governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony, Anne arrived in America in 1630. Cultured and well educated, Anne’s poems tend to focus on domestic and religious themes, although she had no problems taking on the topics of politics, education, and history. In fact, Anne may have been our first feminist; she was a devoted wife and mother (of eight!) but felt quite free to speak her mind and was well respected in her community. Her brother-in-law took her manuscript, The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America, By a Gentlewoman of Those Parts, back to England without Anne’s knowledge, and had it published, making her the author of the first book published by an American woman. Learn more about her here.