Text: John G. Whittier, “Edgar A. Poe,” National Era (Washington, DC), vol. III, no. 44, November 1, 1849, p. 175, col. 2

[page 175, column 2, continued:]

EDGAR A. POE is dead. He was born in Virginia, in 1811. When quite young his parents died, and he was raised by Mr. John Allen, a wealthy gentleman of Richmond.

In 1816, he accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Allen [[Allan]] to Great Britain — visited every portion of it, and spent four years at school near London.

He returned to America in 1822, and in 1825, went to Jefferson University, in Charlottesville, Virginia, where he led a very dissolute life. He went home, however, College honors, and a heavy debt. Mr. Allen, refused to pay his debts of honor, and in dudgeon he quitted the country, to join the Greeks then struggling for Liberty, but instead went to Russia, whence he returned in 1829. Poe afterwards went to West Point, but soon left, and determined to maintain himself by authorship. — Cleveland True Democrat.

The public is familiar with his literary efforts. He possessed fine talents, but, unregulated by any high principle, they never achieved results of substantial benefit to society, or won for him such distinction as would have been awarded them, had they been controlled by a high moral aim and a steady purpose.