American writer Edgar Allan Poe, Over came extraordinary obstacles in his life
to create exceptional writings. He is one of the greatest most accomplished poets, short-
story writers, and literary critics . The British author with the most interesting life is
Edgar Allan Poe was born January 19, 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts. His father
deserted the family and his mother died before Poe was three years old. His father David
Poe Jr. died probably in 1810 and his mother Elizabeth Hopkins a remarkably talented
young actress, was stricken with tuberculosis at the age of 24 and died in 1811. They left
three children, of whom William died young and Rosalie ultimately lost her mind. Edgar
was taken into the home of a Richmond Virginia merchant Mr. And Mrs. John Allan.
That is where he got his middle name Allan. Edgar was never legally adopted. He
received the first of his education in Richmond and in England where the Allan's spent
1815-1820. Both schools were private and classical education. He excelled in athletics,
was a skillful boxer and a daring swimmer. One hot June day he swam six miles in the
James River, against a strong tide. He was very proud of this accomplishment. The
University of Virginia had been opened under the patronage of Thomas Jefferson in
1825. At the beginning of 1826, Poe, then seventeen, placed his name upon the register of
students. In the convivial atmosphere of undergraduate fellowship, habits of
irresponsibility and reckless indulgence were easily acquired. Because his foster father
sent him barely enough money to survive, Poe gambled to try to win money for books
and clothing. Unfournatly he did not have very good luck. He attended the University of
Virginia for a year, but in 1827 his foster father, displeased by the young man's drinking
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