Edgar Allan Poe in his time

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1784
Poe's maternal grandparents, Henry Arnold and Elizabeth Smith, both actors at the Covent Garden Theatre (London), marry in June.

1787
In springtime their daughter Elizabeth Arnold (Poe's mother-to-be) is born in London.

1790
Apparently, Henry Arnold dies (his name is on the play bills no more).

1795
Elizabeth Arnold (Henry's widow) has continued to play at the Covent Garden Theatre, but in November she leaves London for the United States, with her daughter.

1796
January 3: Mother and daughter arrive in Boston on board the ship Outram.

1809
On January 19 Edgar Poe is born in Boston. At the time his parents are playing at the Federal State Theater.

1811
December 8: Poe's mother Elizabeth dies. From now Poe on stays at the Allan family (John and Francis Allan).

1815
July 28: arrival in Britain with the Allan family.

1818
Poe attending school at Manour House, Stoke-Newington, near London.

1820
July 21: back in New York. On August 2: the Allans and Poe stay with Charles Ellis (Allan's partner).

1821
The Allans including Poe, move to Fifth Street. Poe attends Clarke School (until December 1822).

1823
Poe attends William Burke's School.

1825
June 28: the Allans purchase a house (Fifth and Main Street).

1826
February 14: Poe enters University of Virginia (Charlottesville).
December 15: Poe leaves University of Virginia.

1827
Poe and John Allan have a serious row.
March 24: Poe leaves Richmond for Boston.
April 7: arrival in Boston.
May 26: Poe enlists in the US Army, under the name Edgar A. Perry. He is sent to Fort Independence (Boston Harbour). Tamerlane and other Poems (anonymously: "by a Bostonian") published.
November 8-18: Poe on his way to Fort Moultrie, Charleston, SC.

1828
December 11-15: Poe on his way to Fortress Monroe, VA.

1829
January 1: Poe obtains rank of Seargent Major.
February 29: Francis Allan dies.
April 15: voluntary retirement from the army. Poe goes to Washington.
Autumn: Poe stays with his aunt Mrs. Maria Clemm and her daughter Virginia (Baltimore).
December, Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane and Minor Poems is published in Baltimore.

1830
June: Poe at the US Military Academy at West Point, NY.

1831
February 19: Poe leaves West Point.
In April the second Edition of Poems by Edgar A. Poe is published in New York.
During the summer Poe stays again with the Clemms in Baltimore.

1832
Five tales published by The Philadelphia Saturday Courier.

1833
October 12: Poe wins the first prize in a competition in The Baltimore Saturday Visitor with MS. Found in a Bottle.

1834
March 27: John Allan dies, leaving nothing to Poe.

1835
Four tales published by The Southern Literary Messenger.
August: Poe leaves Baltimore for Richmond to become an Aassistant editor of The Southern Literary Messenger.
October 3: Mrs. Clemm and her daughter Virginia come to Richmond.

1836
May 16: Poe and Virginia (< 14) marry.

1837
January 3: Poe leaves the Messenger.
February: He goes to New York (living first at Sixth Avenue and Beverly Place, then at 113 Carmine Street).

1838
July: The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym published in New York.
Summer: Poe moves to Philadelphia.

1839
The Conchologist's First Book published in Philadelphia.
June: Poe becomes assistant editor of Burton's Gentleman's Magazine.

1840
Tales from the Grotesque and Arabesque published in Philadelphia. Poe leaves Burton.

1841
April: Poe becomes editor of Graham's Magazine.
July: unsuccessful attempt of Poe's to become a clerk in the Treasury Department in Washington.

1842
January: Virginia breaks a blood vessel while singing.
May: Poe leaves Graham's Magazine.

1843
The Prose Romances of Edgar A. Poe published in Philadelphia.

1844
April 7: Poe moves to New York.

1845
January 29: The Raven published by the Evening Mirror (New York), of which Poe is assistant editor.
March 8: Poe becomes one of the editors of The Broadway Journal.
May: Poe moves to 195 East Boradway, New York.
October 24: He obtains the post of proprietor of The Broadway Journal.
November: The Raven and Other Poems published in New York.
Winter: removal to 85 Amity Street, New York.

1846
January 3: The Broadway Journal doesn't exist anymore.
May: removal to a cottage in Fordham.

1847
January 30: Virginia dies.

1848
February 3: Poe reads Eureka at New York Society Library.
June: Eureka published in New York. Poe proposes a book titled Literary America.
June 10: Poe lectures at Lowell, MA, where he meets Mrs. Nancy Locke Heywood Richmod ("Annie").
July 17: Poe goes to Richmond. VA.
September 21: Poe travels to Providence, RI, to meet Mrs. Sarah Helen Whitman to whom he makes a proposal of marriage.
November: another journey to Providence for the same reason, then proceeds to Boston where he tries to commit suicide.
December 20: Poe lectures in Providence.
December 22: a marriage agreement is drawn up, the wedding is to take place a few days later, but the engagement is broken off.

1849
Spring: Poe attempts to get the support of E. H. N. Patterson of Oquawka to start a new magazine.
June 30: Poe goes to Richmond.
July: He arrives at John Sartain's home in Philadelphia in a state of delirium.
July 13: He goes to Richmond and meets Sarah Elmira Royster, whom he hopes to marry.
August 17: He gives a lecture in Richmond on The Poetic Principle.
September: Poe gives the same lecture again, in Norfolk and Richmond.
September 27: Poe goes to New York.
October 3: Poe is discovered unconscious in Baltimore and taken to Washington College Hospital.
October 7: Poe dies at 5 am.

Last modification: March 7, 2007 by hb.