Edgar Allan PoeThe Father of Modern Mystery

Biography and Education

1809-1849

When he was 3-years-old, his mother died, and his father left when his wife died

John Allen, his foster father, gave Poe him no financial support

Educated in England and Virginia, but dropped out due to debt

Showed strength in writing while attending West Point

Perry’s EnlistmentPoe enlisted in the army under the pseudonym Edgar Allen Perry

Stationed for thirteen months at Fort Moultrie at the Western End of Sullivan’s Island, SC

His enlistment inspired the story, “The Gold Bug”

First Love and then some

His first love was poetry, even though he did not receive very much money for his work

In his early years, he produced two small volumes of work.

He married his 13-year-old cousin, Virginia Clemm at the age of 26, but Virginia died of tuberculosis

Due to his marriage, he had to find work that allowed an income to support both of them

He got a job as at the Messenger as an editor and a contributor

Making BaconIn 1836, Poe had been credited with between 80-90 reviews, six poems, four essays, three stories, and various editorials and commentaries.

Worked for “Gentleman’s Magazine” in 1839

He was still poor, mostly because of drinking and fighting, but had a “rich” reputation

He was offered to work $800 a week as an editor

His Most Popular Works

“The Fall of the House of Usher”

“The Murders in the Rue Morgue”

“The Tell-Tale Heart”

“The Pit and the Pendulum”

“The Raven” – Poe’s most famous poem

How did Poe die?He died alone and poor at Washington College Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, after being found face-down in a gutter. That is the only thing historians agree on. For a long time it was assumed that he died of liver failure brought on by a life of drunken excess. Recent examination of the evidence, however, has indicated that after his death his body exhibited symptoms of diabetes or rabies, while shortly before his death, he was reported behaving in a manner consistent with mild epilepsy, or perhaps a flare-up of bipolar disorder. Other theories suggested have included syphilis, a digestive disorder, or even murder. All contemporary records, including Poe's death certificate, have been lost. No one knows what his cause of death.

Legacy Lives On

In Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina, you can dine at a restaurant known as Poe’s Tavern. The restaurant’s location was chosen for Poe’s time spent there in the army.

You can order food named after his works, such as a burgers called “The Raven” and “Starving Artist”, and chili called “Edgar’s Drunken Chili”.

You can get mugs and t-shirts with his face on them!

There are more restaurants in Baltimore and New York that are all based off of the life times and Edgar Allan Poe.

And On and On and…

In Richmond, Virginia, you can visit the Poe Museum, open since 1922.

The location of the museum is only blocks away from Poe’s actual home and work.

The museum holds Poe’s manuscripts, letters, first editions, memorabilia and personal belongings.