The Life and Times of EDGAR ALLAN POE

Born January 19th of 1809 Son of actress Eliza Poe and actor David Poe Jr. (See picture of his mother to the right!) Both parents died of tuberculosis by the time Edgar was three years old. He had a sister and a brother Adopted by theatre fans of his parents….John and Fanny Allan. They were very wealthy, and Fanny, who was adopted herself, wanted to adopt Edgar.

The Allans moved and lived in England for 5 years, and Edgar attended school. In 1826 he attended the University of Virginia He gambled and drank A LOT!!! Edgar was desperate for money to pay his gambling debts, but John Allan was tired of bailing him out….and refused!!!

Edgar was forced to leave the university after only one year. He wrote to his adopted father. “I have heard you say (when you thought I wasn’t listening and therefore must have said it in earnest) that you had no affection for me.” Several hostile letters were sent between the two!

Edgar moved to Boston Wrote some poetry and worked for a small newspaper In June of 1827, Edgar joined the US Army! He used a fake name…Edgar A. Perry He did extremely well and his peers and superiors looked up to him! It was a time of peace in our country. Edgar decided after a couple of years that he wanted to leave the army. His lieutenant only agreed if he reconciled with the Allan family. Edgar had told him his true life story.

Edgar wrote John Allan And heard nothing back He wrote again… No reply. It was Edgar’s 20th birthday. What Edgar did not know was that Fanny Allan was on her death bed and desperately wanted to see Edgar. John finally sent for him, but it was too late. Fanny was dead.

Fanny’s death brought Edgar and John closer Fanny’s death brought Edgar and John closer. John even bought Edgar a new set of clothes, a knife, a hat, and a pair of gloves. Although he was still sad about Fanny’s death, he was happy about the reconciliation with John Allan. He wrote, “I am much happier than I have been for a long time.” He went to live in Richmond with his aunt and cousin, Muddy and Virginia. Edgar worked for the paper and supported his poor aunt and her daughter, Virginia Clemm

Edgar worked very hard, but his debt grew larger. He drank often. He slowly fell in love with his cousin, Virginia Clemm. She was 14 years old. They secretly were married in Baltimore in a private ceremony. It was not uncommon to marry cousins in that day.

Edgar worked for the paper and educated Virginia at home. Eventually, Edgar and Virginia lived in Philadelphia and then in New York City. Edgar worked for the paper and educated Virginia at home. He deeply loved and revered her! Unfortunately, she began to feel ill…to cough and even bleed from her mouth when she would sing Their apartment was cold and drafty. Edgar Allan Poe Collection [Poem from Virginia Clemm Poe to Edgar Allan Poe] :Ever with thee I wish to roam - Dearest my life is thine. Give me a cottage for my home And a rich old cypress vine, Removed from the world with its sin and care And the tattling of many tongues. Love alone shall guide us when we are there - Love shall heal my weakened lungs; And Oh; the tranquil hours we'll spend, Never wishing that others may see! Perfect ease we'll enjoy, without thinking to lend Ourselves to the world and it's glee - Ever peaceful and blissful we'll be. Saturday February 14. 1846

Edgar wrote numerous poems and short stories… Edgar wrote numerous poems and short stories…..but poetry was his first love Edgar was depressed about watching his beloved Virginia suffer! He began to drink again…. Virginia Clemm died in 1847. Edgar was devastated!! He saved locks of her hair. This picture is actual hair!

He stayed in New York and lived with Mrs He stayed in New York and lived with Mrs. Clemm in the same house where Virginia died. He drank and suffered… He took a boat to Baltimore where he was found unconscious on the street on October 4th, 1849 by a friend of his. He never regained consciousness and died on October 9th.

Although Poe’s life ended in despair and disappointment, his writing has made him immortal to many!