Writer Marries 13-Year-Old Niece

Writer Edgar Allan Poe married his 13-year-old nice Virginia Clemm on May 16, 1836.

Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer who founded the criminal novel genre.

Poe studied at the University of Virginia, but he was expelled due to gambling debts, which brought him in conflict with guardian John Allan, who then renounced him as a son. In 1827 he joined the army, lying about his name and age. He went all the way to West Point, but was expelled a year later because of non-performing of duties.

In 1836 Poe married his 13-year-old nice Virginia Clemm, who will later on become an invalid due to consequences brought on by tuberculosis, and in the end died, which is considered to be the cause of Poe`s unrestrained alcoholism and opium intake. Famous poem “Annabel Lee” was dedicated to Virginia.

Depressive and desperate, Poe attempted suicide in 1848. Following that, he disappeared for a period of three days while travelling to his new fiancé. He appeared in Baltimore in a quite peculiar state, where he passed away in the end, on October 7, 1849.