How did Virginia Eliza Clemm Poe's husband Edgar Allan Poe die?

Answer 1

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.

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 a type of drug that can kill you.

Answer 2

Edgar Allan Poe's cause of death is uncertain and controversial. He was found delirious on the streets of Baltimore and died a few days later in 1849. The exact circumstances leading to his death remain a mystery, with theories including alcohol poisoning, drug overdose, or even foul play.