How did David Poe Jr. die?

Answer 1

There are no conclusive causes the death of Edgar Allan Poe. Death certificates were not required in every death and there have been several exhaustive searches for records but none have been found, not even from the hospital where Poe died.

The 'Baltimore Clipper' newspaper published an item stating merely that Poe had died from "a congestion of the brain." (See 'The Poe Log').

There are three theories of the cause of death, none of which are conclusive. They are alcohol, disease and 'cooping.'

The alcohol theory is easy to assume, because Poe was known to drink to excess, especially during bouts of depression. His wife had died about two years earlier and he had begun drinking again. In addition he was found delirious on a street in Baltimore outside a tavern. One problem with this theory is the Poe's physician, Dr. John Moran, stated that Poe did not smell of alcohol at the time. Dr. Moran is not completely reliable; however his statement must be considered. The alcohol theory had also been pushed by Poe's enemies in order to degrade his memory.

The other theory is Poe died from some disease. Tuberculosis has been mentioned however this is unlikely. Poe had never been diagnosed with it and never displayed symptoms of it. TB is a wasting away disease (at the time it was called 'the consumption') Poe would have shown symptoms over time before he died of TB. Rabies has been postulated but this was based on some faulty deductive reasoning. The person advocating the theory read an account by a second person who had misread an account by Poe's physician. The second author believed that Dr. Moran had said that Poe was unable to drink some water. He took this to mean Poe had hydrophobia; a fear of water is a symptom of rabies. In fact Dr. Moran wrote that Poe had been able to drink half a glass with no problem. With no evidence of hydrophobia, there is no rabies theory. Heart disease has been mentioned, but again, Poe never complained of symptoms related to heart disease.

The third theory which is coming to be accepted more and more is 'cooping.' Cooping is voter fraud where backers of political candidates vote several times by changing their appearance either by shaving beards or changing clothes. Voter security was lax and cooping was a common practice. (The common phrase was 'Remember to vote early and often.') Sometimes backers would enlist strangers to do this either by bribery or threats of violence. Poe had been found delirious on the street outside a saloon which had been a polling place for an election the day before. In addition, he was found wearing clothing that did not belong to him. Although it can never be proved, the theory goes that Poe was forced to vote a number of times by being beaten or gotten drunk. He was made to change clothing in order to get past the election workers then left in an unconscious state that night from which he was just recovering when found. If Poe were beaten, the 'congestion of the brain' theory could actually work.

Edgar Allan Poe died at age forty on October 7, 1849. There are said to be many reasons for Poe's death, however, the exact reason is unknown. Many theories stem from alcohol, cholera, drugs, brain congestion, rabies, heart disease, tuberculosis (his first wife was taken by this particular condition), and suicide.

Scientist are still trying to find out

Another theory is dying of natural causes or under the type of drug that can kill you.

Answer 2

There are no conclusive causes of the death of Edgar Allan Poe. Death certificates were not required in every death and there have been several exhaustive searches for records but none have been found, not even from the hospital where Poe died.

The 'Baltimore Clipper' newspaper published an item stating merely that Poe had died from "a congestion of the brain." (See 'The Poe Log').

There are three theories of the cause of death, none of which are conclusive. They are alcohol, disease and 'cooping.'

The alcohol theory is easy to assume, because Poe was known to drink to excess, especially during bouts of depression. His wife had died about two years earlier and he had begun drinking again. In addition he was found delirious on a street in Baltimore outside a tavern. One problem with this theory is the Poe's physician, Dr. John Moran, stated that Poe did not smell of alcohol at the time. Dr. Moran is not completely reliable; however his statement must be considered. The alcohol theory had also been pushed by Poe's enemies in order to degrade his memory.

The other theory is Poe died from some disease. Tuberculosis has been mentioned however this is unlikely. Poe had never been diagnosed with it and never displayed symptoms of it. TB is a wasting away disease (at the time it was called 'the consumption') Poe would have shown symptoms over time before he died of TB.

Rabies has been postulated but this was based on some faulty deductive reasoning. The person advocating the theory read an account by a second person who had misread an account by Poe's physician. The second author believed that Dr. Moran had said that Poe was unable to drink some water. He took this to mean Poe had hydrophobia; a fear of water is a symptom of rabies. In fact Dr. Moran wrote that Poe had been able to drink half a glass with no problem. With no evidence of hydrophobia, there is no rabies theory.

Heart disease has been mentioned, but again, Poe never complained of symptoms related to heart disease.

The third theory which is coming to be accepted more and more is 'cooping.' Cooping is voter fraud where backers of political candidates vote several times by changing their appearance either by shaving beards or changing clothes. Voter security was lax and cooping was a common practice. (The common phrase was 'Remember to vote early and often.') Sometimes backers would enlist strangers to do this either by bribery or threats of violence. Poe had been found delirious on the street outside a saloon which had been a polling place for an election the day before. In addition, he was found wearing clothing that did not belong to him. Although it can never be proved, the theory goes that Poe was forced to vote a number of times by being beaten or gotten drunk. He was made to change clothing in order to get past the election workers then left in an unconscious state that night from which he was just recovering when found. If Poe were beaten, the 'congestion of the brain' theory could actually work.

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Edgar Allan Poe died at age forty on October 7, 1849. There are said to be many reasons for Poe's death, however, the exact reason is unknown. Many theories stem from alcohol, cholera, drugs, brain congestion, rabies, heart disease, tuberculosis (his first wife was taken by this particular condition), and suicide.

* For some possibilities, see Related links below.
It is a mystery as to how Edgar Allan Poe died. Some theories have been suicide, murder, cholera, rabies, syphilis, influenza, and even alcohol which was strongly doubted. The story is that on October 3, 1849, Poe was found in a delirious state on a street in Baltimore, Maryland in seemingly great distress and was taken to Washington College Hospital, where he died four days later on October 7. During his time in hospital, he was never coherent enough to explain what had happened to him.

Answer 3

Tuberculosis (TB)--it was also known as the "Red Death" due to the amount of blood the infected coughed up

The exact cause of Poe's mother's death is unknown. She had no history of being treated for TB, which sometimes takes months or longer before taking a life. She may have had pneumonia, which is what a daughter of the McKenzie family said in 1896. The McKenzie family took Rosalie Poe into their family when Edgar went to live with the Allans right after their parents died in December 1811.

Answer 4

Rabies is unlikely as the basis for that diagnosis has proven false. Besides, it wasn't till 1996 that the theory was even thought of.

Historically, there are three theories that are preeminent: alcohol consumption; beating by corrupt political workers or a lesion of the brain. At least ten other causes of death have been postulated, but the above three are the most likely.

Answer 5

There are no conclusive causes the death of Edgar Allan Poe.

Death certificates were not required in every death and there have

been several exhaustive searches for records but none have been

found, not even from the hospital where Poe died.

The 'Baltimore Clipper' newspaper published an item stating

merely that Poe had died from "a congestion of the brain." (See

'The Poe Log').

There are three theories of the cause of death, none of which

are conclusive. They are alcohol, disease and 'cooping.'

The alcohol theory is easy to assume, because Poe was known to

drink to excess, especially during bouts of depression. His wife

had died about two years earlier and he had begun drinking again.

In addition he was found delirious on a street in Baltimore outside

a tavern. One problem with this theory is the Poe's physician, Dr.

John Moran, stated that Poe did not smell of alcohol at the time.

Dr. Moran is not completely reliable; however his statement must be

considered. The alcohol theory had also been pushed by Poe's

enemies in order to degrade his memory.

The other theory is Poe died from some disease. Tuberculosis has

been mentioned however this is unlikely. Poe had never been

diagnosed with it and never displayed symptoms of it. TB is a

wasting away disease (at the time it was called 'the consumption')

Poe would have shown symptoms over time before he died of TB.

Rabies has been postulated but this was based on some faulty

deductive reasoning. The person advocating the theory read an

account by a second person who had misread an account by Poe's

physician. The second author believed that Dr. Moran had said that

Poe was unable to drink some water. He took this to mean Poe had

hydrophobia; a fear of water is a symptom of rabies. In fact Dr.

Moran wrote that Poe had been able to drink half a glass with no

problem. With no evidence of hydrophobia, there is no rabies

theory.

Heart disease has been mentioned, but again, Poe never

complained of symptoms related to heart disease.

The third theory which is coming to be accepted more and more is

'cooping.' Cooping is voter fraud where backers of political

candidates vote several times by changing their appearance either

by shaving beards or changing clothes. Voter security was lax and

cooping was a common practice. (The common phrase was 'Remember to

vote early and often.') Sometimes backers would enlist strangers to

do this either by bribery or threats of violence. Poe had been

found delirious on the street outside a saloon which had been a

polling place for an election the day before. In addition, he was

found wearing clothing that did not belong to him. Although it can

never be proved, the theory goes that Poe was forced to vote a

number of times by being beaten or gotten drunk. He was made to

change clothing in order to get past the election workers then left

in an unconscious state that night from which he was just

recovering when found. If Poe were beaten, the 'congestion of the

brain' theory could actually work.

---

Edgar Allan Poe died at age forty on October 7, 1849. There are

said to be many reasons for Poe's death, however, the exact reason

is unknown. Many theories stem from alcohol, cholera, drugs, brain

congestion, rabies, heart disease, tuberculosis (his first wife

was taken by this particular condition), and suicide.

Scientist are still trying to find out

Another theory is dying of natural causes or under the type of drug that can kill you.