The death of Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe an American poet, born in Boston Massachusetts, January 18, 1809. At age 2, Edgar Poe became an orphan, was taken in by John and Frances Allen, of Virginia.
In 1815 they sailed overseas where Poe attended school in Irvine Scotland, later in 1816, he joined his family in London.
In 1817 Edgar studied school north of London, then moved back to Virginia in 1820. In 1824 Edgar served in Richmond's honor guard, then studied languages at the University of Virginia in 1826. There Poe created alot of gambling debts, so he left in 1827, going to Boston.
Poe couldn't support himself and joined the Army at 18, published a forty page book of poetry, Tamerlane and Other Poems. In 1829, Poe found someone to finish his enlistment , returning to Baltimore. Where he published his second book, Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane and Other Poems.
Poe went to West Point in 1830, however in 1831 he would be court-martialed from West Point for neglect of duty and disobedience. Poe left for New York and released his third book of poems, titled "Poems". His former Cadets helped finance the book, making $170.00, he returned to Baltimore to live with his Aunt and cousin Virginia.
In 1833 Poe went to Philadelphia submitting a publication, MS. Found in a Bottle received a $50.00 prize. This sent him to assistant editor with Southern Literary Messenger, in Richmond, in 1835. A few weeks later he was fired for being drunk. Poe returned to Baltimore secretly married his 13 year old cousin Virginia. After making a deal to stop drinking, Poe got his job back with the 'Messenger', in Richmond until 1937. Poe's circulations increased 700 to 3,500, poems, book reviews and short stories in the paper.
In 1938 Poe published The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket and in 1839 Poe became assistant editor for Burton's Gentleman's Magazine. In 1940 Poe left Burton's for assistant at Graham's Magazine. However in 1842 Poe's wife was showing signs of tuberculosis, Poe became stressed and drank heavily. He left Graham's, went to 'Evening Mirror' for a short time, and on to editor and sole owner of 'Broadway Journal'. In January 1845 "The Raven" was written, it became an instant hit, however Poe only received $9.00 for publication.
In 1846 The Broadway Journal failed, Poe moved to The Bronx, New York. In 1847 his wife Virginia died, Poe continued drinking heavily, moving back to Richmond, then on to Baltimore. Poe died October 7, 1849 in Baltimore, cause of death was said to be brain congestion, some say, alcohol and drugs, tuberculosis, or perhaps suicide. No one really knows what took this young exceptional writers short life.
