Hammon, Jupiter (1711–1806)

US writer and poet. His first published poem, ‘An Evening Thought’ (1761), preceded the work of Phyllis Wheatley by six years, thus earning him the distinction of being the first African-American to be published. He later moved to Hartford, Connecticut, when the British invaded Long Island (1776). His work was published by the Quakers and includes religious essays, sermons, and poetry. A collection of his work, America's First Negro Poet: The Complete Work of Jupiter Hammon of Long Island, was published in 1970.

Hammon was born in Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York. Little is known of his life, other than he was born a slave, worked as a clerk, and was reportedly educated by missionaries from England. He is believed to have died between 1790 and 1806, although there is no official documentation to this effect.