Edgar Allan Poe

American writer and critic

Born: January 19, 1809 · Died: October 7, 1849

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Who was Edgar Allan Poe?

Edgar Allan Poe (January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic who is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales involving mystery and the macabre. His father abandoned the family in 1810, and when Eliza died the following year, Poe was taken in by John and Frances Allan of Richmond, Virginia. Poe attended the University of Virginia, but left after only a year due to a lack of money. In addition, he is credited with contributing significantly to the emergence of science fiction. He was the second child of actors David and Eliza Poe. They never formally adopted him, but he lived with them well into young adulthood.

Plaque marking the approximate location of Poe's birth on Carver Street in Boston

Historical significance

He is widely regarded as one of the central figures of Romanticism and Gothic fiction in the United States and of early American literature. Poe was one of the country's first successful practitioners of the short story, and is generally considered to be one of the pioneers of the detective fiction genre. He is the first well-known American writer to earn a living exclusively through writing, which resulted in a financially difficult life and career.

An 1845 portrait of Poe by Samuel Stillman Osgood

Sources and further reading

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Wikipedia source

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MLA

“Edgar Allan Poe.” thisDay, thisday.info/people/edgar-allan-poe/. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

APA

Edgar Allan Poe. (n.d.). thisDay. Retrieved October 7, 2026, from https://thisday.info/people/edgar-allan-poe/

Chicago

“Edgar Allan Poe.” thisDay. Accessed October 7, 2026. https://thisday.info/people/edgar-allan-poe/.

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