Home > Facts > Authors Facts > Edgar Allan Poe Facts

Edgar Allan Poe Facts

Edgar Allan Poe Facts
Edgar Allan Poe, the well-known author of macabre short stories and poetry, was born on January 19th, 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts. His mother Elizabeth Arnold Hopkins Poe was an English-born actress and his father David Poe Jr. was also an actor. His father abandoned the family in 1810 and his mother died of pulmonary tuberculosis a year later. Edgar was raised by John Allan and his wife Frances Allan, which is where the 'Allan' in Edgar Allan Poe originated. He studied at the University of Virginia for a year before financial issues forced him to quit. He moved to Boston and began writing for a newspaper. At 18 Edgar joined the army as a means for support and published a poetry collection the same year, which was the beginning of a writing career that would continue until his death in 1849 at the age of 40.
Interesting Edgar Allan Poe Facts:
Edgar Allan Poe had two siblings: an older brother William Henry Leonard Poe, and a younger sister Rosalie Poe.
By the age of only 13 Edgar Allan Poe had written enough poetry that he could have published his own book.
Edgar Allan Poe's first published book (when he was only 18) was titled Tamerlane.
Edgar self-published many of his own short stories. One story won a contest sponsored by the Saturday Visitor.
After winning the contest with Saturday Visitor he continued to publish his works and the Southern Literary Messenger in Richmond hired him in an editorial position.
While working at the Southern Literary Messenger Edgar Allan Poe wrote book reviews and short stories, soon making the magazine the most popular in the south.
Poe's criticism of some of the most famous writers at the time earned him a reputation as a 'fearless critic'.
Edgar Allan Poe married Virginia Clemm when she was only 13. He was 27 at the time.
In 1837 Edgar Allan Poe moved to New York City. He had grown unhappy with his lack of editorial control at the magazine. While in New York he wrote his only novel titled The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym.
In 1844 Edgar Allan Poe published a new story about a balloon trip that crossed the ocean. It was a hoax.
In 1845 The Raven was published and Edgar Allan Poe became famous for the work.
Edgar Allan Poe bought the magazine the Broadway Journal but he soon left the city due to rumors about his love life.
Edgar Allan Poe's wife Virginia died at the age of 24. His writing career came to a halt because he was so devastated by Virginia's death.
Edgar Allan Poe died only two years later. His last two years were spent traveling and giving lectures.
The cause of Edgar Allan Poe's death is still unknown.
After his death, one of Poe's rivals Rufus Griswold wrote a scathing obituary about him. Griswold's attempt to destroy Poe posthumously failed and sales of Poe's work skyrocketed.
The Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum is located in Baltimore, where it is believed that Poe lived when he was 23.


Related Links:
Facts
Authors Facts
Animals Facts
Literature
Literature Summary
Literature Quizzes
The Pit and the Pendulum Summary
Edgar Allan Poe Timeline
Juxtaposition Examples
Anastrophe Examples
Pastiche Examples
Assonance Examples
Cadence Examples
Monologue Examples
Hypotaxis Examples
Personification Examples