The strange story of Edgar Allan Poe’s death sounds like a story of his own. 1849. A man was found delirious in the streets of a town where he did not live, wearing clothes that were not his, unable or unwilling to discuss the circumstances in which he came.
Within days, he died, paralyzed by hallucinations in his final hours, repeatedly calling out the name of a man no one knew.
And the story of Edgar Allan Poe’s death is not only as bizarre and haunting as his work itself, but it remains a mystery to this day. Although historians have studied the details for a century and a half, no one knows for sure what caused Edgar Allan Poe’s death in Baltimore on October 7, 1849.
What The Historical Record Tells Us About Edgar Allan Poe’s Death
Edgar Allan Poe vanished six days before he passed away and just before his wedding.
On September 27, 1849, he had left Richmond, Virginia, for Philadelphia in order to edit a book of poems for a friend. He was discovered on October 3rd, confused and only partially awake, outside a Baltimore bar. Poe never made it to Philadelphia, and no one had seen him in the six days since he departed, it was eventually revealed.
It was unclear how he had arrived to Baltimore. He either didn’t know where he was or didn’t want to say why.
Poe was wearing obviously not his own highly filthy, tattered attire when he was discovered loitering outside a neighborhood tavern. Once more, he was either unable to or unwilling to give an explanation for his current situation.
He could only express one thing, though. Joseph Walker, a local typesetter for the Baltimore Sun, stated that Poe was only lucid long enough to give him a name: Joseph E. Snodgrass, an editor friend of Poe’s who also happened to have some medical expertise. Poe was discovered by Walker.
Fortunately, Walker was able to send a letter to Snodgrass.
Walker wrote: “I promise you, he is in need of immediate aid. There is a gentleman, somewhat the worse for wear, at Ryan’s 4th ward polls, who goes by the cognomen of Edgar A. Poe and who seems in considerable trouble.
In a short period of time, Snodgrass and Poe’s uncle showed there. They and Poe’s other family members were unable to provide an explanation for his actions or his disappearance. Poe had a blind fever while being taken to the Washington College Hospital by the two.
How Did Edgar Allan Poe Die?
Poe suffered from fever nightmares and intense hallucinations for four days. Reynolds was constantly requested, despite the fact that neither Poe’s family nor friends knew anybody by that name and that historians have been unable to place a Reynolds in the author’s life.
While his first wife, Virginia, had passed away over a year earlier and he was still engaged to Sarah Elmira Royster, he also made mention of a wife in Richmond.
On October 7, 1849, Edgar Allan Poe finally passed away as a result of his illness. Phrenitis, or enlargement of the brain, was first given as his official cause of death. However, these records have since vanished, and many people question their veracity.
Each of the dismal ideas put out by historians is as valid as the last.
One of the most well-liked ideas, which Snodgrass himself endorsed, was that Poe drank himself to death. This accusation was repeated in the months that followed Poe’s passing by his enemies.
Others claim Poe was a “cooping” victim.
In order to commit voter fraud, gangs would abduct civilians, force-feed them booze, and then bring their inebriated victims to the polls where they would repeatedly cast ballots for the same candidate. To avoid suspicion, they regularly made their prisoners change their attire or put on disguises.
Poe already had a reputation for being a renowned lightweight, and many of his friends claimed it only took a glass of wine to make him sick, supporting the idea that he overindulged—whether on purpose or out of need.
A different doctor, who examined Poe’s postmortem hair samples, asserted that Poe had avoided almost all alcohol in the months before to his passing, which added fuel to the rumors.
Edgar Allan Poe’s corpse has undergone several exhumations and examinations since his passing. The majority of illnesses, including rabies and influenza, have been ruled out, although other researchers contend that it is hard to establish that either one caused his death.
Additional research on Poe’s post-mortem hair samples produced no evidence, disproving other ideas that include poisoning of any kind.
A New Theory About Poe’s Death Sparks Fresh Debate
Brain cancer is one notion that has gained popularity recently.
There was a small accident when Poe was exhumed in order to be transferred from his Baltimore cemetery to a much finer one. Poe’s skeleton and the casket it was in were significantly deteriorated structurally after spending 26 years below, and they both disintegrated.
Poe’s skull had a unique trait that one of the personnel entrusted with putting the pieces back together noticed: a little, hard item rolling around inside it.
The material was immediately seized upon by medical professionals who said it was proof of a brain tumor.
Last but not least, there are others who believe that foul play was involved, as is to be anticipated in the death of such a strange guy.
Poe was staying with his fiancée’s family in Richmond when he passed away, according to a theory put forth by Edgar Allan Poe scholar John Evangelist Walsh.
According to Walsh, Poe’s future wife’s parents didn’t want her to wed the writer, and after making threats against Poe failed to break them up, the family turned to murder.
It seems appropriate that 150 years after his passing, Edgar Allan Poe’s death is still shrouded in mystery. He created the detective story, so it shouldn’t be surprising that he left the world with a genuine mystery.
The Littlest Skyscraper: How J.D. McMahon’s 480-Inch Con Fooled Investors in 1919
In 1919, J.D. McMahon convinced investors to fund a 480-foot skyscraper, but he labeled the plans as 480 inches, building a 40-foot structure instead. After taking $200,000, he won in court since the plans matched what he built.
Saudi Arabia camel carvings dated to prehistoric era
Archaeologists were shocked to discover that a series of camels carved into desert rock faces in north-western Saudi Arabia are actually prehistoric, dating from 7,000-8,000 years ago - before either the Pyramids of Giza or Stonehenge were built.
Reason Behind The Suicide Of Christine Chubbuck Live On Air
Actor Rebecca Hall had serious reservations about tackling the macabre story around why Chubbuck killed herself in 1974. So what changed her mind?
3 men lived on top of a billboard in tents for almost 9 months
From 1982-1983, three men in Allentown PA competed in a radio contest in which they lived on top of a billboard in tents. Whoever stayed up longest would win a house. Due to economic pressure from the recession, none of the contestants wanted to give up, so the contest lasted almost 9 months.
Why the Word ‘Pen’ Comes from the Latin ‘Penna’ Meaning Feather
The humble word “pen” carries a rich history rooted in ancient times, derived from the Latin word penna, meaning “feather.” Long before modern pens revolutionized writing, feather quills—especially from geese—were the essential tools of scribes, scholars, and artists. This article journeys through the origins of the pen, its evolution, and fascinating trivia about the timeless connection between feathers and writing.
What Was the Beast of Gévaudan?
Between 1764 and 1767, a mysterious animal called the Beast of Gévaudan terrorized the French village called Gévaudan. It attacked and killed about 100 adults and children. While most believe it was a wolf, some say it may have been a wolf-dog hybrid, hyena or even a lion, but without any genetic evidence, the beast will remain a mystery forever.
Iranian inmate dies from happiness after finding out he will not be executed
An Iranian man who was convicted of murder reportedly died from happiness after learning that his death sentence was being commuted.
Jack the Baboon operated a railroad, earned a living, and never made a mistake
A baboon worked as a signalman for the railroad in the late 1800s. He never made a mistake and worked for the railroad until the day he died.
The worst blizzard in recorded history: the 1972 Iran blizzard
The deadliest snowstorm ever recorded occurred in Iran in 1972. It lasted for a week, burying areas in 26 feet of snow and killing over 4,000 people, including the entire populations of three villages.
During the 1996 Olympic bombing, Richard Jewell falsely accused of committing the crime after saving dozens of people
Richard Jewell, an American security guard, discovered a bomb during the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and assisted in the evacuation, but was later wrongfully accused and faced public scrutiny. He was cleared, but it had a lasting impact on him until his death in 2007 at the age of 44.
15 interesting facts about Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II, who ruled Britain for 70 years, has away at the age of 96. She was the country's longest-reigning monarch. Here are some little-known facts about her.
Top 10 most cruel medical procedures that are being used today
We are all aware that medicine has advanced dramatically over the last fifty years. There are several modern medical approaches available today, but this was not always the case. However, the past of medicine is a dark one. Medical leeches, lobotomy, vascular surgery, cranial stenosis, and even electroshock therapy are all options. These are only a couple of the cruel healing techniques that are still in use today.
The Amazing Truth About The German U-Boat That Was Sunk By A Toilet
During WWII, a German captain and an engineer flushed the submarine's high-tech toilet incorrectly, causing the vessel to rapidly fill with water. British planes patrolling the sea attacked them as the submarine was brought to the surface. While many members of the crew were killed in the attack, the captain escaped!
How Sleep Deprivation Was Once Used as Torture
Sleep deprivation, long before modern interrogation techniques, was considered a “clean” and effective form of torture—leaving no physical scars, yet breaking minds with haunting silence. Victims endured days and nights without rest, leading to vivid hallucinations, disorientation, and psychological torment. This article traces the dark history of sleep deprivation as a weapon, examines the science behind its effects on the brain, and shines a light on the painful balance between human endurance and cruelty in the annals of coercion.
Ea-Nasir: world's oldest written customer complaint
This clay tablet, written in cuneiform, is the oldest known written customer complaint about the delivery of poor quality copper ingots. Originally from ancient Babylon, the tablet dates back to 1750 BCE, and it was written by a customer named Nanni to a merchant named Ea-Nasir. It is currently housed in the British Museum.
Louis Le Prince Invented the motion picture camera, and then he mysteriously disappeared
Louis Le Prince, the inventor of motion pictures, vanished without a trace in 1890. Thomas Edison quickly claimed the title of "first and sole inventor of cinema," even taking Le Prince's son to court to dispute it. A few years later, the son also dies under mysterious circumstances.
Moondyne Joe: The story of Australia's most notorious prison escapee
A man named Joseph Bolitho Johns (A.K.A Moondyne Joe) broke out of Australian prisons so many times that the police were compelled to build a special cell just for him. He escaped from that as well.
The Day an Israeli F-15 Landed with One Wing: Zivi Nedivi’s Unbelievable Mid-Air Survival
Discover the astonishing true story of Israeli pilot Zivi Nedivi, who safely landed an F-15 after a mid-air collision tore off its entire right wing. Learn how skill, quick thinking, and the F-15’s unique design turned a disaster into a legendary feat in aviation history
Shizo Kanakuri’s 1912 Olympic Marathon Finished 54 Years
At the 1912 Olympics, a marathon runner quit and went home to Japan without telling officials and was considered a missing person in Sweden for 50 years. In 1966, he was invited to complete the marathon. His time: 54 years, 8 months, 6 days, 5 hours, 32 minutes, and 20.379 seconds.
Xin Zhui And The Story Of The Stunningly Intact Lady Dai Mummy
A 2,000-year-old mummy of a Chinese woman, Xin Zhui, also known as “Lady Dai,” was preserved in 21 gallons of an “unknown liquid.” With her original hair, organs, eyebrows, and eyelashes intact, the mummy still has blood in her veins. Her skin and ligaments are soft and as flexible as that of a living person.
Ancient Jericho: The First Walled City In History
The ancient city of Jericho is the world's oldest walled city, with evidence of stone fortifications dating back nearly 9000 years.
Medals of Friendship: The Enduring Olympic Story of 1936
At the 1936 Summer Olympics, two Japanese pole vaulters named Sueo Oe and Shuhei Nishida tied for second, but they declined to compete against each other. As a result, Nishida was awarded the silver medal and Oe won a bronze medal. Upon returning to Japan, the athletes had their medals cut in half and spliced together to create new "friendship medals," which were half silver and half bronze.
What exactly was the US's 'Ghost Army' during WWII?
During WW2, there was a special unit of men dubbed the ‘Ghost Army’. The unit was made of artists, creative and engineers and their job was to create deception about the enemy. From inflatable tanks to phony convoys to scripted conversations in bars intended to spread disinformation, they used all possible tricks to fool the enemy.
Nearest Green, America's first known Black master distiller
Nathan "Nearest" Green was an African-American head stiller who is now more frequently referred to as a master distiller. He was renowned for imparting his distilling knowledge to Jack Daniel, the creator of Jack Daniel's Tennessee whiskey distiller, after Jack Daniel was freed from slavery following the American Civil War.
Did Gil Pérez Really Teleport from Manila to Mexico Overnight? The 1593 Mystery
On October 24, 1593, while performing his guard duties at Manila's Governor's Palace in the Philippines, Gil Perez stopped to lean against a wall and sleep for a while. He opened his eyes to find himself in an unusual environment. Gil was in the Plaza Mayor in Mexico City. They imprisoned Perez, but the authorities in Mexico City decided to release him and return him home.
