Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe was born on January 19, 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts. He was the son of two poor touring actors, Elizabeth Arnold Poe and David Poe Jr. The Poes traveled around to many different theaters, playing many different roles. While his mother was a well-known actor, his father was not, and was usually drunk during performances. David Poe abandoned his family when Edgar was about two and the rest of the Poe family left for Richmond, Virginia. Edgar’s mother died of tuberculosis there in Richmond. Edgar was only three at the time but apparently he remembered the traumatizing event later in life.
After his mother’s death, John and Frances Allan took Edgar in. John Allan was a wealthy merchant. Allan changed Edgar Poe’s name to Edgar Allan Poe when he was baptized but never legally adopted him. John Allan sent Poe to all the best schools. John Allan’s company went bankrupt and he thought his family would have to live an austere lifestyle. Fortune found the Allan’s in 1825 when John’s uncle died and left the family $200,000. John Allan could now afford to send Edgar to the University of Virginia. While there, Edgar began drinking and gambling. This is also where he began writing poems.
In 1827, Poe left the University and went to Baltimore. He was hoping to publish the poems that he had written but nobody would buy them. Poe was without any income so he joined the Army. He gained the rank of sergeant major in just two years and wrote in his spare time. He soon learned that poetry was prohibited in the Army so he intentionally neglected his duties and was discharged in 1831.
Poe’s literary career had now begun, but did not take off. Poe was able to publish some of his works but was still quite poor. Poe had a turn of good fortune when, in 1835, he became the editor of the Southern Literary Messenger. Through his position as editor, Poe published many of his poems. In 1836, Poe married his cousin, Virginia Clemm, who was thirteen years old. Fired from the Messenger for drinking, Poe moved from city to city with Virginia looking for a job. He found one at Burton’s Gentleman’s Magazine, where he became the co-editor. Poe’s career hit its peak with The Raven, which turned him into a local celebrity over night in New York. The publishing of the poem gave Poe enough money to live comfortably on his own for the very first time in his life.
In 1847, Poe’s wife died at the same age (24) and of the same disease (tuberculosis) as his mother. Poe was unable to write anything for at least half a year while he was in severe depression over the loss of his wife. The first piece he wrote after her death was Ulalume, which was a reflection of Poe’s state of mind at the time of Virginia’s death. So distraught by his wife’s death, Poe began drinking heavily. He was found in the streets of Baltimore, semi-conscious wearing clothes that did not belong to him and he was drunk. He was brought to a local hospital. His last words were said to be “Lord help my poor soul”. Poe died October 7, 1849 at the age of forty.