The Life and Times The Life and Times ofof

EDGAR ALLAN POEEDGAR ALLAN POE

Born January 19Born January 19thth of of 18091809

Son of actress Eliza Poe Son of actress Eliza Poe and actor David Poe Jr. and actor David Poe Jr. (See picture of his (See picture of his mother to the right!)mother to the right!)

Both parents died of Both parents died of tuberculosis by the time tuberculosis by the time Edgar was three years Edgar was three years old. He had a sister and old. He had a sister and a brothera brother

Adopted by theatre fans Adopted by theatre fans of his parents….John and of his parents….John and Fanny Allan. They were Fanny Allan. They were very wealthy, and Fanny, very wealthy, and Fanny, who was adopted herself, who was adopted herself, wanted to adopt Edgar.wanted to adopt Edgar.

The Allans moved The Allans moved and lived in England and lived in England for 5 years, and for 5 years, and Edgar attended Edgar attended school.school.

In 1826 he attended In 1826 he attended the University of the University of VirginiaVirginia

He gambled and He gambled and drank A LOT!!!drank A LOT!!!

Edgar was desperate Edgar was desperate for money to pay his for money to pay his gambling debts, but gambling debts, but John Allan was tired John Allan was tired of bailing him of bailing him out….and refused!!!out….and refused!!!

Edgar was forced to leave the university Edgar was forced to leave the university after only one year.after only one year.

He wrote to his adopted father. “I have He wrote to his adopted father. “I have heard you say (when you thought I wasn’t heard you say (when you thought I wasn’t listening and therefore must have said it listening and therefore must have said it in earnest) that you had no affection for in earnest) that you had no affection for me.”me.”

Several hostile letters were sent between Several hostile letters were sent between the two!the two!

Edgar moved to BostonEdgar moved to Boston Wrote some poetry and worked for a Wrote some poetry and worked for a

small newspapersmall newspaper In June of 1827, Edgar joined the US In June of 1827, Edgar joined the US

Army!Army! He used a fake name…Edgar A. PerryHe used a fake name…Edgar A. Perry He did extremely well and his peers and He did extremely well and his peers and

superiors looked up to him! It was a superiors looked up to him! It was a time of peace in our country.time of peace in our country.

Edgar decided after a couple of years Edgar decided after a couple of years that he wanted to leave the army. His that he wanted to leave the army. His lieutenant only agreed if he reconciled lieutenant only agreed if he reconciled with the Allan family. Edgar had told with the Allan family. Edgar had told him his true life story.him his true life story.

Edgar wrote John Edgar wrote John AllanAllan

And heard nothing And heard nothing backback

He wrote again…He wrote again… No reply. It was No reply. It was

Edgar’s 20Edgar’s 20thth birthday. birthday. What Edgar did not What Edgar did not

know was that Fanny know was that Fanny Allan was on her Allan was on her death bed and death bed and desperately wanted to desperately wanted to see Edgar. John see Edgar. John finally sent for him, finally sent for him, but it was too late. but it was too late.

Fanny was dead.Fanny was dead.

Fanny’s death brought Edgar and John Fanny’s death brought Edgar and John closer. John even bought Edgar a new set closer. John even bought Edgar a new set of clothes, a knife, a hat, and a pair of of clothes, a knife, a hat, and a pair of gloves.gloves.

Although he was still sad about Fanny’s Although he was still sad about Fanny’s death, he was happy about the death, he was happy about the reconciliation with John Allan. He wrote, “I reconciliation with John Allan. He wrote, “I am much happier than I have been for a am much happier than I have been for a long time.”long time.”

He went to live in Richmond with his aunt He went to live in Richmond with his aunt and cousin, Muddy and Virginia. Edgar and cousin, Muddy and Virginia. Edgar worked for the paper and supported his worked for the paper and supported his poor aunt and her daughter, Virginia Clemmpoor aunt and her daughter, Virginia Clemm

Edgar worked very Edgar worked very hard, but his debt hard, but his debt grew larger.grew larger.

He drank often.He drank often. He slowly fell in love He slowly fell in love

with his cousin, with his cousin, Virginia Clemm. She Virginia Clemm. She was 14 years old.was 14 years old.

They secretly were They secretly were married in Baltimore married in Baltimore in a private in a private ceremony.ceremony.

It was not It was not uncommon to marry uncommon to marry cousins in that day.cousins in that day.

Eventually, Edgar and Eventually, Edgar and Virginia lived in Virginia lived in Philadelphia and then Philadelphia and then in New York City.in New York City.

Edgar worked for the Edgar worked for the paper and educated paper and educated Virginia at home.Virginia at home.

He deeply loved and He deeply loved and revered her!revered her!

Unfortunately, she Unfortunately, she began to feel ill…to began to feel ill…to cough and even bleed cough and even bleed from her mouth when from her mouth when she would singshe would sing

Their apartment was Their apartment was cold and drafty.cold and drafty.

Edgar Allan Poe Collection Edgar Allan Poe Collection [Poem from Virginia Clemm [Poem from Virginia Clemm Poe to Edgar Allan Poe] Poe to Edgar Allan Poe]

::Ever with thee I wish to roam -Ever with thee I wish to roam -Dearest my life is thine.Dearest my life is thine.Give me a cottage for my homeGive me a cottage for my homeAnd a rich old cypress vine,And a rich old cypress vine,Removed from the world with its Removed from the world with its sin and caresin and careAnd the tattling of many tongues.And the tattling of many tongues.Love alone shall guide us when we Love alone shall guide us when we are there -are there -Love shall heal my weakened Love shall heal my weakened lungs;lungs;And Oh; the tranquil hours we'll And Oh; the tranquil hours we'll spend,spend,Never wishing that others may see!Never wishing that others may see!Perfect ease we'll enjoy, without Perfect ease we'll enjoy, without thinking to lendthinking to lendOurselves to the world and it's glee Ourselves to the world and it's glee --Ever peaceful and blissful we'll be.Ever peaceful and blissful we'll be.Saturday February 14. 1846Saturday February 14. 1846

Edgar wrote numerous Edgar wrote numerous poems and short poems and short stories…..but poetry stories…..but poetry was his first lovewas his first love

Edgar was depressed Edgar was depressed about watching his about watching his beloved Virginia beloved Virginia suffer! He began to suffer! He began to drink again….drink again….

Virginia Clemm died in Virginia Clemm died in 1847. Edgar was 1847. Edgar was devastated!!devastated!!

He saved locks of her He saved locks of her hair. This picture is hair. This picture is actual hair!actual hair!

He stayed in New He stayed in New York and lived with York and lived with Mrs. Clemm in the Mrs. Clemm in the same house where same house where Virginia died.Virginia died.

He drank and He drank and suffered…suffered…

He took a boat to He took a boat to Baltimore where he Baltimore where he was found was found unconscious on the unconscious on the street on October 4street on October 4thth, , 1849 by a friend of 1849 by a friend of his.his.

He never regained He never regained consciousness and consciousness and died on October 9died on October 9th.th.

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