Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe (born January 19, 1809 - died October 7, 1849) was and is considered to be one of the most famous poets in history. He is famous for writing tragic, horror, and Gothic stories and poems such as The Raven, The Tell Tale Heart, Annabel Lee, The Masque of the Red Death, The Pit and the Pendulum, Lenore, The Black Cat, etc. Born Edgar Poe in Boston, he was orphaned after his parents died and was adopted by the Allens and was renamed Edgar Allen Poe. At age 26, he settled down in Baltimore and married his cousin Virginia Clemm when she was 13 years old. In 1847, two years after The Raven was published and became a huge success, Poe's wife died of tuberculosis leaving him in a depression, and it is said that her death was an influence for more of Poe's darker stories. He would also form a bitter rivalry with fellow poet, editor and critic, Rufus Wilmot Griswold when he succeeded Poe as editor of Graham's Magazine at a higher salary. Before Poe died, he was found in an alley, drunk, disoriented, and muttering about someone named Reynolds. He died a day later on October 7, 1849. Yet, even after the poet's death, Griswold would continue to antagonize him, going so far as to write a very unsympathetic obituary and even start a campaign to harm his reputation until he finally died eight years later.

According to Halloween Horror Nights, Poe's madness slowly began when he was at a sea port to decide where to continue his life. His choices were Boston, his birthplace, or Baltimore, where he would wed Virginia later on. He chose Baltimore, and the ticket taker (Lady Luck in disguise) escorted him to the ship.

Poe's poem of Lady Luck

Never seraph spread opinion

Over fabric half so fair

But talon serpent lie within

Beneath that auburn hair

Choice and chance such a simple thing

This made to seem so fair

I chose south to save myself

And songs be made to share

Now madness sings this haunted place

A tomb of sheer despair

Now madness sings this haunted place

My heart of sheer despair

Trivia

• It is revealed that Poe was a member of the Legions of Horror; a Baccanoid along with Bloody Mary, Boris Shuster, and Richard and Paige Steerington.