Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic, born on January 19, 1809, in Boston. Orphaned at a young age, he was raised by John and Frances Allan in Richmond, though he never had a stable relationship with his foster father. Poe attended the University of Virginia but left because of financial problems and later briefly joined the U.S. Army.
Poe became known for his dark, emotional writing and for exploring themes such as death, madness, and the supernatural. He become so important to the English literature because he helped shape the genres of horror and psychological fiction, influencing many later writer and for his poetic style and emphasis on mood, rhythm, and symbolism helped develop modern literary techniques.
In the night of his life he got trouble with addiction and alcoholisms, but his work became highly influential after his death in 1849 in Baltimore.