Bradstreet, Anne

Ann Bradstreet (c.1612-Sept.16,1672) was America's first published poet.

The daughter of Thomas Dudley, born in Northampton England, she was well educated at an early age. At age sixteen, she married Simon Bradstreet, and in 1630, her entire family decided to begin a new life in America. They sailed on the Arbella with Winthrop's fleet in 1630 to Salem and the new world.

They didn't stay in Salem long, but went on to found the city of Boston. Both Anne's father and husband were instrumental in founding Harvard College. In 1997, the Harvard committee dedicated a gate in memory of her as America's first published poet. Bradstreet Gate is located next to Canaday Hall. Despite poor health, she had eight children and achieved comfortable social standing.

Anne eventually returned to the North Shore to live in Ipswich, then Andover.

See Also

• Mistress Bradstreet: the untold life of America's first poet by Charlotte Gordon

• The complete works of Anne Bradstreet A. Bradstreet

• Anne Bradstreet; the tenth muse by E. W. White