Edgar Poe Biography, Birth, Marriage & Death


Edgar Allan Poe’s Childhood

Edgar Poe, full name Edgar Allan Poe, was an American writer, Poet, Literary critic, and editor born on January 19, 1809.

Poe is widely known for his short stories and his poetry. In the United States, he was recognized as a central figure of Romanticism and the Literature of America.

Edgar Poe is famous for his dark, mysterious poems and stories: The Raven, The Black Cat, The Fall of The House of Usher, and Heart.

His tale The Murders in the Rue Morgue initiated the modern detective story, published in 1841. The atmosphere in his tales of horror is unrivaled in American fiction.

His “The Raven” is the best-known poem in national literature. Poe was the first known writer of America to earn his living through his literature during his difficult time. 

Edgar Poe’s writing career

Edgar Poe was born as the second child of David Poe and Elizabeth Poe in Boston. His parents were well-known actors in America at that time.

In 1810, his father left him and his family, and his mother left the world the following year. Johan and Frances Allan of Richmond took Poe with them.

They did not formally adopt Poe, but they kept him with them till his young adulthood. Poe went to the University Of Virginia but had to abandon the University in a year because of insufficient money.

He enlisted in the United States Army after quarreling with Allan over the funds for his education.

From this time, Poe’s writing and publishing career began. He entered the Field of literature through his collection ‘Tamerlane’ in 1827.

Poe couldn’t pass as an officer cadet in West Point. He later wished to become a writer instead. Then Edgar stayed focused on writing and spent most of the time just writing what he wanted.

He continuously gave time for Literary journeys and was later known for his writing style. Edgar Poe had to move to various cities because of his work.

He moved to cities like Baltimore, New York, and Philadelphia. He married his cousin, who was 13 years old. Unfortunately, Virginia Clemm died at 23 due to tuberculosis in 1847.

Edgar Poe published his poem “The Raven” In January 1845. His poem “The Raven” was a success. He tried hard to publish his journal “The Penn.”

He later renamed the journal “The Stylus” because he could not produce the journal. He died on October 7, 1949, at the age of 40.

Nobody knows the reason for his death, but it has been attributed to disease, alcoholism, suicide, and many more.

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Edgar Poe’s military Career 

Edgar Poe enlisted in the United States Army using Edgar A. Perry on May 27, 1827, claiming that he was 22 years old, although he was 18 because he could not support himself.

Initially, I worked at Fort Independence for five dollars per month. He released his first book, a collection of his poetry, named “Tamerlane and Other Poems” in the same year.

The book didn’t receive virtual attention; only 50 copies were published. He shifted to Fort Moultrie in South Carolina. On November 8, 1817, he traveled by ship to Waltham.

Edgar Poe worked there continuously for two years and achieved the Major Sergeant rank. It was the highest rank a non-commissioned officer achieved.

Poe revealed his real name to Lieutenant Howard, his Commanding Officer, at the end of the five years. He said he would only allow Poe to abandon if he reconciled with Allan.

In the end, Allan agreed to support Poe in being discharged from the United States Military Academy in ‘New York. On April 15, 1829, Poe was discharged.

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Edgar Poe Biography

Edgar Poe began his career as a writer after the death of his brother. He began to have earnest attempts to start his career.

He was one among many Americans to live by writing. At that time, American publishers published unauthorized copies of British work rather than paying attention to new jobs.

There was booming growth in America, so the publishers refused to publish the stories and poems. Publishers then paid much later than they promised and even refused to pay.

In 1835, Poe obtained a license to marry his cousin Celmm; he was 26 years old, whereas his cousin was 13 years old. His wife died after 11 years of marriage, which may have inspired him to write some of his writings.

The Baltimore Saturday Visitor awarded Edgar Poe a prize in October 1833 for his Short Story MS. Found in a Bottle. “John P. Kennedy” brought attention to the story, which helped him make his career much easier than it was.

With the help of John P. Kennedy, Poe became an assistant editor in August 1835 of the periodical. But, he was discharged from the job because he was drunk.

Edgar Poe published a prospectus announcing his intentions to start writing his journal “The Stylus. On June 6, 1840, he brought advertising space for his prospectus in the Saturday Evening Post.

The Prospectus is a monthly Literary edited and published by Edgar A. Poe in Philadelphia. ‘The Stylus,’ his journal, was never published before Edgar’s death.

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Edgar Poe Biography

After leaving Burton after a year, he became a writer and co-editor at Graham’s Magazine. In 1841, Poe was the co-signatories of Graham’s editorial note of the tremendous success of that past magazine year. 

Edgar Poe’s Genres

Poe is best known for his Gothic Horror genre, and the public likes this writing style. He is more focused on dark romanticism as most papers include questions of life and death, the effects of decomposition, physical signs, and concerns of premature burial.

After the pond on Boston Common, he was referred to the movement as” Frog-Pondians of, followers of the transcendental movement.

Eggar Poe to Thomas Holley Chivers wrote that he did not dislike transcendentalists but only the sophists and pretenders among them.

Besides the Gothic Horror, Poe also wrote humor tales, hoaxes, and satires. The first story that Poe was popular to have published is Metzengerstein.

It was his first foray into Gothic horror. Poe has also reinvented the science fiction “The Balloon Hoax.” Poe used themes that are specifically mass-market taste in his writings. His invention often includes elements of popular as phrenology and physiognomy.

Edgar Poe’s death

The circumstances and causes of the death of Edgar Allan Poe are uncertain. He is buried in Baltimore, Maryland, at Westminister Hall. Poe was found delirious on the streets of Baltimore On October 3, 1849.

According to ‘Joseph W. Walker, who found Poe on the streets, he was taken to the “Washington Medical College” as soon as possible, where he died on October 7, 1849, in the morning.

Poe was not wearing his clothes and was not coherent enough to explain how he came to be in that condition. On the night before his death, people heard him repeatedly calling out the name “Reynolds.” But, it was unclear to whom he was referring.

“Lord helps my poor soul” was the last words that Poe said, According to some sources. All medical documents and records, including his death certificate, have been lost.

Reporters reported Poe’s death as Cerebral inflammation, which was caused due to the excessive use of alcohol in the newspaper. His death remains a mystery, as no one knows what happened. 

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One of Edgar Poe’s famous short stories

“The Oval Portrait” is one of the short stories written by Edgar Allan Poe. The story shows the relationship between life and death and the destructive power of love.

The story begins with an injured narrator but does not cover the narrator’s incidents. He has his valet, who takes him to a Chateau of the Apennines in central Italy. The chateau seems to have decaying decorations.

They choose the smallest apartment to stay in. The room had beautiful paintings, Trophies, and tapestries, but it seemed useless in that unmanaged environment.

The narrator finds a book describing each image in his bed; through the book, his eyes go upon the oval portrait of a young girl just ripening into womanhood.

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Edgar Poe Biography

According to the book, the portrait was of the wife of a passionate painter who had painted that portrait. Once, he wished to paint the painting of his wife, and she could not say no to his passion. During the illustration, he locked himself and his wife in a tower away from the city.

Edgar Poe took not only days but weeks to complete the portrait of his wife. He did not realize that she grew paler as the picture grew lifelike. After the completion of the painting, he turns her image to face her and finds her dead.

Have they frequently asked questions about Edgar Allan Poe?

Q. How did he die?

A. No one knows the actual reason for his death.

Q. Why is death Mysterious?

His death is mysterious because the reason for his death is not known, and documents like death certificates have been lost. 

Q. Who found Poe in the streets of Baltimore?

A. Joseph W. Walker found him in the streets of Baltimore.

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