Edgar Allan Poe: 1809-1849

Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 19, 1809. His father died probably in 1810, and his mother died in 1811, leaving three children. Edgar was taken into the home of the Richmond merchant John Allan. Never legally adopted, Poe took Allan's name for his middle name.

Poe attended the University of Virginia from 1826-27, but was expelled for not paying his gambling debts. After winning a prize of $50 for the short story "MS Found in a Bottle", he started a career as a staff member of various magazines.

In 1836, Poe married his 13-year-old cousin Virginia Clemm, who died five years later. He addressed the famous poem "Annabel Lee", written in 1849, to her. After the death of his wife, Poe began to lose his struggle with drinking and drugs. The dark poem of lost love, 'The Raven,' brought Poe national fame, when it appeared in 1845.

Poe suffered from depression and madness, and he attempted suicide in 1848. In September of the following year, he disappeared for three days after a birthday party. He turned up in delirious conditions and died on October 7th, 1849.