What was the educational background of Edgar Allan Poe?

Answer 1

Edgar Poe was born on January 19, 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts to David Poe, Jr. and Elizabeth Arnold Hopkins Poe. They lived in Baltimore, Maryland but were traveling actors and happened to be in Boston. Poe's father left the family shortly after Poe's younger sister Rosalie was born. When the troupe was in Richmond, Virginia, Poe's mother died on December 8, 1811. Some say it was tuberculosis, others say it was pneumonia. It isn't clear. Poe's father died a few days later, making Edgar an orphan.

A Richmond couple, John and Frances Allan took Poe into their home and gave him their last name , Allan, as his middle name by having him baptized as Edgar Allan Poe. They were foster parents and never adopted Poe. Poe grew up in Richmond except for five years in Scotland and England. Frances was a loving devoted mother, but John was sometimes pleased with him, but most often not. Mr. Allan gave Poe a good education sending him to various schools depending on where they lived and how old Poe was at each time.

Poe became secretly engaged to Sarah Elmira Royster; however her father did not approve. He intercepted letters that Poe was sending when he was at the University of Virginia. Sarah felt that Poe had forgotten about her and she got engaged to and married another man. Poe was crushed.

Poe and his foster father had a falling out when Poe went to the University of Virginia. Poe ran up $2000 in gambling debts (some say he was cheated). Mr. Allan refused to pay the debts and refused to pay any further tuition so Poe left college and joined the army under the name of Edgar A. Perry. He rose to the rank of Sergeant Major before being discharged.

Poe was influenced to write poetry by the works of British poet Lord Byron. His first complete poem was "O Tempore! O Mores!" which was not published until after his death. While still in the army, in 1827 he published his first book of poems entitled "Tamerlane and other Poems" annonymously using the phrase "By a Bostonian." Poe's foster mother died in 1829. It was a great loss for Poe and he and his foster father reconciled for a bit. Poe left the army but still found it difficult to support himself so he applied for admission to the U. S. Military Academy at West Point. He soon regretted it. He contrived his own court martial by deliberately neglecting duties and was dismissed.

Poe held several jobs editing and writing for several newspapers and magazines while continuing to write and publish poetry. He began writing short stories that were published in some of the magazines. He also wrote essays and critiques.

Later, he moved in with his aunt Maria Clemm and married her daughter, his first cousin, Virginia. She was 13 years old and Poe was 27.

The time in Baltimore was probably when Poe rounded into the author he turned out to be. He would live in many different locations, but always considered Richmond his true home.

So much for "background" on Edgar Allan Poe. This was not intended to be a complete biography.
The Allan family had Poe baptized in the Episcopal church in 1812. John Allan alternately spoiled and aggressively disciplined his foster son part of the American Romantic Movement http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Allan_Poe

Answer 2

Edgar Allan Poe attended the University of Virginia but had to drop out due to financial difficulties. He also briefly attended the United States Military Academy at West Point. However, Poe was mostly self-taught and widely read in a variety of subjects.

Answer 3

Edgar Allan Poe had a diversified educational background. While in England with the man who adopted him he attended the Manor House School in Stoke Newington. Back in America , he attended the University of Virginia. Later he was accepted into The US Military Academy at West Point. He soon realized that a career in the army was not for him. Poe deliberately failed in his studies to the point of neglect. This resulted in his court martial and the end of his time at West Point.