Edgar Allen Poe was,in my mind, an extraordinary writer. Poe was often regarded as strange. His stories and poems were often depressing. Some would say that they were a reflection of his eccentric, erractic, and often bizarre life. Sometimes Poe would mirror his life in his poetry and stories, but very often, he let his imagination soar, creating stories and poems that rank as some of American literature’s best. Edgar Allen Poe was born on January 19, 1809, in Boston, Massachusetts. His parents, David and Elizabeth Poe, were itinerant actors.
Elizabeth achieved a measure of respect as an actress, Poe’s father never did. David deserted his wife and children when Edgar was very young. IN 1811, when Poe was only 2, his mother died. The Poe children were seperated and Edgar went to live with a wealthy Scottish tobacco farmer named John Allen. At this time, Poe was given the name Edgar Allen Poe. John Allen and his wife Frances never legally adopted Edgar. Actually, John Allen took Poe in at the request of his wife. Frances Allen was very attracted to Edgar throughout her life. John never really cared for the boy.
The Allens lived in England from 1815 to 1820. While in England Edgar recieved his education at the classical academy of Dr. John Bransby at Stroke Newington. Soon after the Allens returned to America, in 1826, Poe enrolled in the University of Virginia. John Allen had Poe on a very limited budget, so to make more money, Poe turned to gambling. He was soon in great debt, and John Allen would not cover his debts. As a result, Poe was kicked out of the university. In May of 1827 Poe enlisted in the army in Boston under the name of “Edgar A. Perry.
He was desperate for money and saw the stint in the army as a source of income. But he found out that the army was not for him and he pleaded with John Allen to use his influence to get him out of the army. Allen refused and it was only the deathbed pleadings of Frances Allen that aided Poe’s release. John Allen then insisted that Edgar attend West Point. Although Edgar knew that military was not for him, he went to West Point in hopes of gaining favor with John Allen. But that was not meant to be. Poe was kicked out of West Point in 1831 for disciplinary reasons (he appeared on the parade grounds naked).
In August of 1831, Poe published Tamerland, he first book of poems. He recieved little, if any, recognition from his publication. In 1831 Edgar moved to Baltimore to try his hand at journalism. He soon discovered his Aunt Maria Clemm and her daughter Virginia. Poe did very little for the next four years and remained poor. In 1835, he was offered a position at the Southern Literary Messanger, which was published in Richmond, Virginia. Before moving to Richmond, Poe married his thirteen year old cousin, Virginia.
In 1837, he left the Southern Litereary Messanger and moved to New York City. Poe found no success in New York and moved to Philidelphia. It was there that he wrote “The Fall of the House of Usher. ” In 1844, Poe tried New York City again. He soon found a position at N. P. Willis’ Evening Mirror and then on the Broadway Journal. In 1847 Virginia died at the age of 24. Two years later Poe became reacquainted with Elmira Royster Shelton, a wealthy widow who had been his first love. Elmira and Edgar were soon engaged to be married only a year after Virginia died.
On October 3, 1849, Poe was found drunk and incoherant in the gutter on a street in Baltimore, Maryland. He was taken to a hospital where he died without regaining conciousness. He died on October 7, 1849 and was buried in Westminister churchyard in Baltimore. His last words were, “Lord, help my poor sould. ” Poe never achieved the respect or recognition that he desired. But time has given Poe the recognition he so deserved. He left a literary legacy. Edgar Allen Poe always was and always will be one of the world’s great writers.
