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Edgar Allan Poe is born
impoverished parents, orphaned at the age of two, and then adopted by a man named John Allan. -
Poe's Sister is born
Poe's sister Rosalie is born. Shortly after her birth, David Poe deserts the family, leaving Poe's mother alone with three children. Making matters worse, -
Poe's Parents die
Elizabeth Arnold Poe dies of tuberculosis in Richmond, Virginia. Within days, David Poe also dies of tuberculosis. With no parents to take care of them, the three children of the family are split up. -
Poe writes his first poem.
A fifteen-year-old Edgar Allan Poe writes his first poem. Last night, with many cares & toils oppres‘d, Weary, I laid me on a couch to rest. This is Poe’s earliest surviving poem. It was never published during his lifetime, nor used as part of a longer poem. -
Poe Enlists in U.S. Army and shortly after his first book is published.
Edgar Allan had no money, no job skills, and had been shunned by John Allan. Edgar went to Boston and joined the U.S. Army in 1827. He was 18.He did reasonably well in the Army and attained the rank of sergeant major -
Poes Older brother dies
Edgar's older brother Henry dies of either tuberculosis or cholera at the age of 27. -
Poe marries his thirteen year old cousin, Virginia Clemm.
In 1836, Edgar married his cousin, Virginia. He was 27 and she was 13. Many sources say Virginia was 14, but this is incorrect. Virginia Clemm was born on August 22, 1822. They were married before her 14th birthday, in May of 1836. -
Writes his first novel The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym
Poe published some of his own works in the magazine, including two parts of his only novel, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym. -
Poe's story collection Tales
Poe published Tales of the Grotesque andArabesque, a collection of stories. It contained several of his most spine-tingling tales, including "The Fall of the House of Usher," "Ligeia" and "William Wilson." -
Poe Publishes the Raven
Poe publishes the poem , The Raven in the New York Evening Mirror. It is wildly successful, bringing the writer the fame and fortune that have long eluded him. He soon becomes editor and owner of a magazine called the Broadway Journal, a doomed enterprise that is already in debt when Poe takes over. -
Poe's Wife Virginia dies of tuberculosis
Poe's wife Virginia dies of tuberculosis at their home in the Bronx. Poe has been so despondent during the final months of her illness that friends thought he was going insane. The loss of his wife sends Poe into a downward spiral of alcoholism. -
Edgar Allen Poe Dies
On October 3, Poe was found at Gunner's Hall, a public house at 44 East Lombard Street, and was taken to the hospital. He lapsed in and out of consciousness but was never able to explain exactly what happened to him. Edgar Allan Poe died in the hospital on Sunday, October 7, 1849.
