• Slide 1 of 34: It was Election Day, and the clouds were heavy and dark with rain. On October 3, 1849, iconic American writer Edgar Allan Poe was found outside of an Irish tavern in Baltimore, disheveled and delirious, unable to explain what had happened to him. Edgar Allan Poe was wearing soiled clothing that didn't belong to him. The man who found him took Poe to the hospital where he remained in a state of semi-consciousness for four days until his death on October 7. What happened to one of the most important writers of the 19th century? Whose clothes was he wearing? Was he beaten? Drugged? Here are some of the theories historians have come up with to attempt to explain his mysterious death, as compiled by the Smithsonian.

  • Slide 2 of 34: Before Joseph W. Walker found him on Election Day, nobody had seen or heard from Poe for six days. On September 27, 1849, Poe had left Richmond to edit a collection of poems by a writer in Philadelphia. But by all accounts, he never made it to Philly.

  • Slide 3 of 34: After his business trip to Philadelphia, Poe was supposed to stop by New York—where he had previously lived—to escort his aunt to Richmond where he was set to marry Sarah Elmira Royster Shelton.

  • Slide 4 of 34: According to his physician, Poe repeatedly called out for

  • Slide 5 of 34: His birth certificate states that he died from phrenitis, an inflammation of the brain. But the circumstances that led to his delusion and state of semi-consciousness have led many to speculate about the circumstances surrounding his death. The following are some of the theories that have arisen in the years since Poe's mysterious demise.

  • Slide 6 of 34: Biographer E. Oakes Smith speculated in 1867 that a woman summoned

  • Slide 7 of 34: Smith's theory contends that Poe must have become involved with a woman before his engagement to Shelton, who was not pleased about the news of the upcoming wedding.

  • Slide 8 of 34: Writer Eugene Didier similarly believed Poe had been beaten by

  • Slide 9 of 34: Others have theorized that Poe fell victim of a voter fraud practice common in the 19th century known as "cooping."

  • Slide 10 of 34: The technique practiced by gangs consisted in kidnapping someone and then forcing the unsuspecting victim to wear multiple disguises in order to vote for a particular candidate multiple times.

  • Slide 11 of 34: Weirdly, Poe was found on Election Day near Gunner's Hall, a place that served as a pop-up polling location. He was also wearing clothes that weren't his.

  • Slide 12 of 34: Because of the coincidences, this theory has become one of the most popular in regards to Poe's death. Additionally, coopers were known to give alcohol to their victims as a sort of payment. If the coopers had made Poe vote several times, this would mean he had quite a lot to drink. Given that Poe was known to struggle with alcohol, this could explain his confused state.

  • Slide 13 of 34: Many writers believe that Poe suffered from a hereditary condition that made him more susceptible to the effects of alcohol. His sister reportedly suffered from it as well.

  • Slide 14 of 34: Not long before his death, Poe fell severely ill in Richmond, but made an improbable recovery. His physician said he should abstain from alcohol to prevent further complications. As someone who suffered from alcoholism, Poe possibly failed to abstain, which could have led to health complications and even death.

  • Slide 15 of 34: Biographer Susan Archer Talley Weiss is one who believed this theory. In 'The Last Days of Edgar A. Poe,' she wrote that Poe told his physicians that

  • Slide 16 of 34: One of Poe's close friends, J. P. Kennedy, also believed his dear friend drank himself to death. He wrote in his personal diary that Poe

  • Slide 17 of 34: Because of Poe's struggles with alcohol, this theory quickly became popular following his death. But this theory doesn't explain his six-day absence or why he was wearing somebody else's clothes on the day he was found.

  • Slide 18 of 34: Modern analyses of Poe's hair from after his death show low levels of lead, which suggests he was sober when he died.

  • Slide 19 of 34: Public health researcher Albert Donnay tested Poe's hair and theorized in 1999 that he died from carbon monoxide poisoning from coal gas, which was commonly used in the 19th century for indoor lighting. But the lab tests were inconclusive, leading biographers and historians to largely discredit this theory.

  • Slide 20 of 34: While the samples of Poe's hairs didn't reveal relevant amounts consistent with carbon monoxide poisoning, they did show high levels of mercury.

  • Slide 21 of 34: Mercury is known to cause delusion, memory loss, and confusion, which would explain Poe's behavior.

  • Slide 22 of 34: However, the mercury levels found in his hair samples—though high—are still 30 times lower than fatal levels.

  • Slide 23 of 34: In 1996, Dr. R. Michael Benitez, a Maryland cardiologist, proposed that Poe's death was a consequence of rabies, which was fairly common in the 19th century.

  • Slide 24 of 34: According to Poe's supervising physician, the author's symptoms included delirium, hallucinations, wide variations in pulse rate, and rapid, shallow breathing—all consistent with rabies.

  • Slide 25 of 34: However, this theory has its downfalls. For example, those afflicted by rabies were known to develop a fear of water, and Poe was reportedly drinking water at the hospital until his death.

  • Slide 26 of 34: One of the interesting things about Benitez's diagnosis is that he didn't know he was looking at Poe's case when he made his diagnosis. The cardiologist was participating in a medical conference and was assigned Poe's case anonymously.

  • Slide 27 of 34: The curator of the Poe House Museum in Baltimore, Jeff Jerome, has said he agrees with the diagnosis because Benitez had no agenda and was uninfluenced by the common knowledge that Poe suffered from alcoholism.

  • Slide 28 of 34: A more recent theory revolves around the idea that the author suffered from brain cancer. Poe's body was exhumed 26 years after his death as he had been unceremoniously buried in an unmarked grave. One of the men moving Poe's coffin noticed something strange about Poe's skull.

  • Slide 29 of 34: At the time, newspapers reported that the mass the workers found in Poe's coffin was his brain, which we now know is impossible because the human brain is one of the first organs to rot.

  • Slide 30 of 34: Author Matthew Pearl contacted a forensic pathologist to discuss the issue and the professional reported that the clump could have been a calcified tumor.

  • Slide 31 of 34: The tumor could have affected Poe's behavior, explaining his delusions and confusion. The growing tumor could also explain why Poe reacted so poorly to the effects of alcohol.

  • Slide 32 of 34: Some have theorized that Poe might have simply died from the flu. Poe had been ill before his death, and his fiancée reported that he had a weak pulse and a fever, and suggested he refrained from traveling to Philadelphia. Since it was raining that day in Baltimore, Poe could have developed pneumonia and the high fever would explain his hallucinations.

  • Slide 33 of 34: John Evangelist suggested in his 2000 book 'Midnight Dreary: The Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe' that the poet was murdered by his fiancée's three brothers, who disapproved of their marriage. His theory suggests that Poe did make it to Philly, where he was ambushed by the brothers. Frightened, he used a disguise to hide, which would explain his strange clothes.

  • Slide 34 of 34: Poe was to return to Richmond by way of Baltimore, where he was intercepted by the brothers who beat him and force-fed him whiskey. However, his hair samples have shown he was likely sober when he died. Although not impossible, Evangelist's theory hasn't gained much traction with historians and biographers.See also: Read up on the world's rarest and most valuable books

The theories backside the ever-mysterious death of Edgar Allan Poe

It was Election Mean solar day, and the clouds were heavy and dark with rain. On Oct 3, 1849, iconic American writer Edgar Allan Poe was found outside of an Irish gaelic tavern in Baltimore, disheveled and delirious, unable to explain what had happened to him. Edgar Allan Poe was wearing soiled clothing that didn't vest to him. The man who found him took Poe to the hospital where he remained in a state of semi-consciousness for four days until his death on October 7. What happened to ane of the most important writers of the 19th century? Whose apparel was he wearing? Was he beaten? Drugged? Hither are some of the theories historians have come up upwards with to try to explain his mysterious decease, as compiled by the Smithsonian.

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Disappearance

Before Joseph W. Walker plant him on Ballot Solar day, nobody had seen or heard from Poe for six days. On September 27, 1849, Poe had left Richmond to edit a collection of poems by a writer in Philadelphia. Simply by all accounts, he never made information technology to Philly.

Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you lot purchase something through recommended links in this article.

Why was he in Baltimore?

Later on his business organization trip to Philadelphia, Poe was supposed to finish by New York—where he had previously lived—to escort his aunt to Richmond where he was set to marry Sarah Elmira Royster Shelton.

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"Reynolds"

According to his physician, Poe repeatedly called out for "Reynolds" the dark before his death, someone whose identity remains a mystery to this day.

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Official crusade of death

His nascence document states that he died from phrenitis, an inflammation of the brain. But the circumstances that led to his delusion and state of semi-consciousness have led many to speculate about the circumstances surrounding his decease. The following are some of the theories that have arisen in the years since Poe's mysterious demise.

Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this commodity.

i. Beating

Biographer E. Oakes Smith speculated in 1867 that a woman summoned "ruffians" to beat Poe out of spite.

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1. Chirapsia

Smith's theory contends that Poe must accept become involved with a adult female earlier his date to Shelton, who was not pleased nigh the news of the upcoming wedding ceremony.

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1. Beating

Writer Eugene Didier similarly believed Poe had been browbeaten past "ruffians." In 1872, he wrote that while in Baltimore, Poe met with old friends for drinks. But given he had a problem with alcohol, he would normally become intoxicated after just a few drinks. Didier theorized that, afterward leaving the Irish tavern, a heavily boozer Poe was mugged and beaten by said "ruffians."

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2. Cooping

Others have theorized that Poe fell victim of a voter fraud do common in the 19th century known equally "cooping."

Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.

2. Cooping

The technique practiced by gangs consisted in kidnapping someone and and then forcing the unsuspecting victim to clothing multiple disguises in society to vote for a particular candidate multiple times.

Microsoft and partners may exist compensated if yous buy something through recommended links in this article.

2. Cooping

Weirdly, Poe was found on Election Day well-nigh Gunner'southward Hall, a place that served equally a pop-upward polling location. He was also wearing clothes that weren't his.

Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.

2. Cooping

Because of the coincidences, this theory has become one of the most popular in regards to Poe'southward decease. Additionally, coopers were known to give alcohol to their victims as a sort of payment. If the coopers had fabricated Poe vote several times, this would hateful he had quite a lot to drink. Given that Poe was known to struggle with alcohol, this could explain his confused state.

Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you lot purchase something through recommended links in this article.

three. Booze

Many writers believe that Poe suffered from a hereditary condition that fabricated him more susceptible to the effects of alcohol. His sister reportedly suffered from it as well.

Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.

3. Alcohol

Non long before his decease, Poe fell severely ill in Richmond, only fabricated an improbable recovery. His physician said he should abstain from alcohol to prevent further complications. As someone who suffered from alcoholism, Poe perhaps failed to abstain, which could have led to wellness complications and even death.

Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.

3. Alcohol

Biographer Susan Archer Talley Weiss is one who believed this theory. In 'The Last Days of Edgar A. Poe,' she wrote that Poe told his physicians that "if people would not tempt him, he would not fall," suggesting his previous disease was related to his alcoholism.

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3. Alcohol

One of Poe's close friends, J. P. Kennedy, also believed his dearest friend drank himself to death. He wrote in his personal diary that Poe "fell in with some companion here who seduced him to the canteen, which it was said he had renounced some time ago. The consequence was fever, delirium, and madness, and in a few days a termination of his sad career in the hospital. Poor Poe! A bright but unsteady calorie-free has been awfully quenched."

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3. Alcohol

Because of Poe'southward struggles with alcohol, this theory chop-chop became popular following his death. But this theory doesn't explain his six-day absenteeism or why he was wearing somebody else's clothes on the day he was found.

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3. The alcohol theory: A modern twist

Modern analyses of Poe'southward hair from later on his expiry testify depression levels of lead, which suggests he was sober when he died.

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4. Carbon monoxide poisoning

Public health researcher Albert Donnay tested Poe'southward hair and theorized in 1999 that he died from carbon monoxide poisoning from coal gas, which was ordinarily used in the 19th century for indoor lighting. But the lab tests were inconclusive, leading biographers and historians to largely discredit this theory.

Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.

5. Heavy metallic poisoning

While the samples of Poe's hairs didn't reveal relevant amounts consistent with carbon monoxide poisoning, they did show high levels of mercury.

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v. Heavy metal poisoning

Mercury is known to cause delusion, memory loss, and defoliation, which would explicate Poe's behavior.

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five. Heavy metallic poisoning

However, the mercury levels found in his hair samples—though high—are still 30 times lower than fatal levels.

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half-dozen. Rabies

In 1996, Dr. R. Michael Benitez, a Maryland cardiologist, proposed that Poe's death was a event of rabies, which was fairly mutual in the 19th century.

Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this commodity.

vi. Rabies

Co-ordinate to Poe's supervising physician, the author's symptoms included delirium, hallucinations, broad variations in pulse rate, and rapid, shallow animate—all consistent with rabies.

Microsoft and partners may exist compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.

vi. Rabies

Withal, this theory has its downfalls. For example, those afflicted past rabies were known to develop a fear of h2o, and Poe was reportedly drinking h2o at the infirmary until his death.

Microsoft and partners may exist compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.

6. Rabies

I of the interesting things about Benitez's diagnosis is that he didn't know he was looking at Poe's case when he made his diagnosis. The cardiologist was participating in a medical conference and was assigned Poe'southward case anonymously.

Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you buy something through recommended links in this article.

vi. Rabies

The curator of the Poe House Museum in Baltimore, Jeff Jerome, has said he agrees with the diagnosis because Benitez had no agenda and was uninfluenced by the mutual knowledge that Poe suffered from alcoholism.

Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.

7. Brain tumor

A more recent theory revolves around the thought that the author suffered from encephalon cancer. Poe'due south body was exhumed 26 years after his death equally he had been unceremoniously buried in an unmarked grave. One of the men moving Poe's coffin noticed something strange about Poe'south skull.

Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.

7. Encephalon tumor

At the time, newspapers reported that the mass the workers found in Poe's coffin was his brain, which we now know is impossible because the human encephalon is 1 of the first organs to rot.

Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this commodity.

7. Encephalon tumor

Writer Matthew Pearl contacted a forensic pathologist to discuss the issue and the professional person reported that the clump could accept been a calcified tumor.

Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you buy something through recommended links in this article.

vii. Brain tumor

The tumor could have affected Poe's behavior, explaining his delusions and defoliation. The growing tumor could also explain why Poe reacted so poorly to the effects of alcohol.

Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this commodity.

8. Flu

Some have theorized that Poe might have simply died from the flu. Poe had been ill before his decease, and his fiancée reported that he had a weak pulse and a fever, and suggested he refrained from traveling to Philadelphia. Since information technology was raining that solar day in Baltimore, Poe could accept developed pneumonia and the high fever would explain his hallucinations.

Microsoft and partners may exist compensated if yous purchase something through recommended links in this commodity.

9. Murder

John Evangelist suggested in his 2000 book 'Midnight Dreary: The Mysterious Expiry of Edgar Allan Poe' that the poet was murdered past his fiancée's 3 brothers, who disapproved of their marriage. His theory suggests that Poe did make it to Philly, where he was ambushed past the brothers. Frightened, he used a disguise to hide, which would explain his strange clothes.

Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.

nine. Murder

Poe was to return to Richmond by manner of Baltimore, where he was intercepted past the brothers who beat out him and force-fed him whiskey. Even so, his hair samples have shown he was likely sober when he died. Although not impossible, Evangelist's theory hasn't gained much traction with historians and biographers.

Come across as well: Read up on the earth's rarest and near valuable books

Microsoft and partners may exist compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.

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