Edgar+Allan+Poe

" Men have called me mad; but the question is not yet settled, whether madness is or is not the loftiest intelligence– whether much that is glorious– whether all that is profound– does not spring from disease of thought– from moods of mind exalted at the expense of the general intellect. " - from [|"Eleonora"] as told by Edgar Allan Poe.

Childhood
Edgar Allan Poe was born on January 19, 1809 in Boston Massachusetts. He is the son of David Poe and Elizabeth Arnold Hopkins also the brother of Rosalie and William Henry. At the age of one Edgar's father died and just a year after so did his mother. Edgar was then adopted by rich tobacco merchants in Richmond, Virginia named John and Frances Allan. In 1815 they moved to England where he went to school in Chelsea.

In 1820 he was back in Richmond where he went to the University of Virginia where he studied Latin, and Poetry. He also liked to swim and act. While in school, Edgar became separated from his foster father and became in dept from bad gambling habits. Edgar was no longer able to support himself so he quit school and joined the army which he served for two years.

After writing poetry for awhile he published "Dreams" in 1827. Frances(his foster mother) died two years after "Dreams" was published. Also, in 1829, his book "//Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane and Minor Poems"// was published and "Poems" was then published after that. After "Poems" Edgar moved to Baltimore to live with his aunt Maria Clemm, his cousin Virginia Eliza Clemm, and his brother Henry. Henry died of tuberculosis soon after Edgar moved in. In 1835 Edgar became contributor and editor of the //Southern Literary Messenger//. He also contributed to //Godey’s Lady’s Book//, //Gentleman’s Magazine//, //Evening Mirror//, and //Graham’s Magazine//.In 1836 at the age of 27 he married his cousin of thirteen Virgina Eliza Clemm. After they got married they moved to New York. And in 1838 Edgar's only completed novel //The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym// was published.

In 1847, Virginia died at the age of 27 from tuberculosis and Edgar started drinking more heavily.On June 29th, 1849, Edgar went to Philadelphia, then to Richmond and Norfolk to begin a lecture tour to raise money for his magazine. When in Richmond, he reunited with Elmira Royster Shelton who was his childhood sweetheart and at one time they were engaged. After Edgar and Elmira were engaged for the second time, Edgar was supposed to go back to New York to get his personal things so he could move in with Elmira. But before Edgar left for New York he stopped by the office of Dr. John F. Carter at 9:30 that night just to chat. After talking for awhile, Edgar left (accidentally leaving his original and a copy of //Moore’s// //Irish Rhapsodies//) and went across the street to Saddler’s Restaurant for dinner.

“At the restaurant he met with some acquaintances who detained him until late, and then accompanied him to the Baltimore boat. According to their account he was quite sober and cheerful to the last, remarking, as he took leave of them, that he would soon be in Richmond again” said Mrs. Susan A. T. Weiss.

Taking a boat Edgar arrived in Baltimore on September 28th. The next couple of days the where abouts of Edgar Allan Poe are sketchy. Some people say that he was mugged. Others say he passed out drunk and unconscious outside of the bar and never woke up. Some others say that he died of tuberculosis in which so much of his family died from.