Edgar Allan Poe
On January 19, 1809, in Boston, Massachusetts one of the world?s most distinguished writers was born. His name was Edgar Poe. He was born to Elizabeth Arnold Poe, an English born actress, and David Poe, Jr., an actor from Baltimore, Maryland.
Young Poe?s life was that of most children, until his mother tragically died December 8, 1811, at the age of twenty-four. Within a few days of her death, Poe?s father dies. Poe then went to live with his godfather, John Allan, a successful tobacco merchant in Richmond, and his wife Frances, who had no children of their own. His foster parents John and Frances added Poe?s middle name of ?Allan?. Although Poe was never legally adopted, he became known as ?Edgar Allan Poe? at his Christening on January 7, 1812. And throughout his life, Poe typically signed his name ?Edgar A. Poe?, with the initial rather than the full name.
In 1815, his godfather, John Allan sent Poe to England and Scotland to begin his classical education for five years. When he returned to Richmond, Virginia, Poe studied Greek, Latin, French, Spanish, and Italian. Poe was well educated in private academies. In 1826, Poe entered the University of Virginia, where he
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