Edgar Allan Poe

The author Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to actors David (1789-?) and Elizabeth Arnold Poe (ca.1787-1811). Elizabeth had immigrated to America from England in 1796 and married David Poe in 1805. The Poes had three children: William Henry (1807-1831), Edgar and Rosalie (1810-1874) before the marriage failed.

David Poe vanishes. Elizabeth suddenly found herself a single mother with few family resources. Her death in 1811 was a catastrophe that caused her young family to be being physically separated forever. William Henry was sent to live with David’s parents in Baltimore, Maryland. Edgar was taken in by Mr. and Mrs. John Allan of Richmond, Virginia, and the infant Rosalie was sent to yet another Richmond family, the MacKenzies.

Edgar Allan Poe took the name of his foster family and grew attached to his foster mother, Frances Keeling Valentine Allan (1784-1829), only to suffer great loss with her early death.