Edgar Allan Poe

A life in dates

  1. 19 January 1809: Born – Boston, Massachusetts, United States
  2. December 1811: Joins the Allan household – Richmond, Virginia, United States, John and Frances Allan raise him without formally adopting him.
  3. 8 December 1811: Mother dies – Richmond, Virginia, United States, Loses his mother, Elizabeth Arnold Poe.
  4. 1815 – 1820: Lives abroad with the Allans – Great Britain, Accompanies the family to England and Scotland.
  5. 1816: Attends the Dubourg school – Chelsea, London, England, Boards at the school run by the Misses Dubourg.
  6. 1818 – 1820: Attends Manor House School – Stoke Newington, London, England, Studies at John Bransby's school.
  7. 1820: Returns to Richmond – Richmond, Virginia, United States, Returns from Britain with the Allans.
  8. 14 February 1826 – December 1826: Studies at the University of Virginia – Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, Leaves after one year amid financial difficulties.
  9. 26 May 1827 – 15 April 1829: Serves in the United States Army – United States, Enlists as Edgar A. Perry and rises to sergeant-major.
  10. 28 February 1829: Frances Allan dies – Richmond, Virginia, United States, Loses his foster mother.
  11. 1830 – 6 March 1831: Attends the United States Military Academy – West Point, New York, United States, Studies as a cadet; his dismissal follows a court-martial.
  12. 1831: Lives with Maria Clemm – Baltimore, Maryland, United States, Shares a home with his aunt and cousin Virginia.
  13. 1 August 1831: Brother Henry dies – Baltimore, Maryland, United States, Loses William Henry Leonard Poe.
  14. 27 March 1834: John Allan dies – Richmond, Virginia, United States, His foster father leaves him no inheritance.
  15. 1835 – January 1837: Edits the Southern Literary Messenger – Richmond, Virginia, United States, Works as an editor and literary reviewer.
  16. 16 May 1836: Marries Virginia Clemm – Richmond, Virginia, United States, Marries his cousin Virginia; he is twenty-seven and she is thirteen.
  17. 1837: Moves to New York – New York City, New York, United States, Leaves Richmond with his family.
  18. 1838 – 1844: Lives in Philadelphia – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, Makes Philadelphia his home for about six years.
  19. 1838: The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket – Novel
  20. 1839 – 1840: Edits Burton's Gentleman's Magazine – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, Takes an editorial post.
  21. 1841 – May 1842: Edits Graham's Magazine – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, Works as an editor before resigning.
  22. 1842: Virginia becomes seriously ill – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, His wife develops tuberculosis.
  23. March 1842: Meets Charles Dickens – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, Meets Dickens during the English writer's American visit.
  24. 1844: Returns to New York – New York City, New York, United States, Moves back with his family.
  25. 7 October 1844: Joins the Evening Mirror – New York City, New York, United States, Works as a critic and subeditor.
  26. 1845: Edits and owns the Broadway Journal – New York City, New York, United States, Briefly runs the periodical.
  27. 1846 – 1849: Moves to Fordham – Fordham, New York, United States, Settles outside the city with his family.
  28. 1847: Virginia dies – Fordham, New York, United States, Loses his wife after her prolonged illness.
  29. 7 October 1849: Died – Baltimore, Maryland, United States, Aged 40.