Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic whose work helped shape Gothic fiction and the modern detective story. Born in Boston on January 19, 1809, he was taken in by John and Frances Allan of Richmond, Virginia, after his mother’s death in 1811, though they never formally adopted him. Academy of American Poets

Poe became known for suspenseful stories exploring fear, obsession, and the troubled human mind. His influential works include “The Fall of the House of Usher,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” and “The Murders in the Rue Morgue,” widely regarded as the first modern detective story. His poem “The Raven” brought him widespread fame in 1845. Despite his literary achievements, he struggled financially and endured personal losses, including the death of his wife, Virginia, in 1847. He died in Baltimore on October 7, 1849, at age 40; the precise cause of his death remains uncertain. The Poe Museum