Tales of the Bizarre: ‘The Raven’ Poet Edgar Allan Poe Was Found Delirious in a Baltimore Gutter

Zhanna Slor October 4, 12:56 pm

Portrait of American author Edgar Allan Poe (1809 - 1849) against a green background and under an embossed presentation of his last name, probably taken from a cigar box, 1900. — Hulton Archive/Getty Images

On Oct. 3, 1849, American poet Edgar Allan Poe was found delirious, confused and wearing someone else’s ratty clothes in a Baltimore, Maryland gutter. Yes, literally! He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was treated for severe intoxication, but he died four days later on Oct. 7.

It’s no secret that Poe was a disturbed fellow, if you’ve ever read his work or know much about his life — for example, he married his 13-year-old first cousin when he was 27. He also had some serious issues with substance abuse. T.H. White, the first editor to hire him at the Southern Literary Messenger fired Poe over his drinking soon after hiring him. White was such a fan of his writing abilities when Poe wasn’t drinking that he eventually agreed to rehire him if he could stay sober; Poe resigned under duress just a few months later. So, apparently, he could not.

Poe’s binge drinking was likely what caused his death, though no one knows for sure. After his cousin-wife died of tuberculosis in 1847, Poe’s behavior only got more erratic, and his drinking got worse. He proposed repeatedly to two different women in the last year of his life, while living with his former mother-in-law, who was also his aunt.

Credit: Karen Ruud

Edgar Allan Poe’s Cause of Death

The attending physician where Poe was taken at the time reported the cause of death as phrenitis, an antiquated term for swelling of the brain. This was apparently also a common way of referring to death by means of alcoholism. Many theories have circulated as to what caused his death, including various illnesses he might have had. But, since none of Poe’s medical records or the actual death certificate remain, it’s a mystery that will never be solved.

Poor Poe was only 40 years old at the time, and broke, despite writing “The Raven,” one of the most well-known works of poetry in modern literature, as apparently he only got paid between $5-15 for it. His name lives on forever in high school English lesson plans, however — and on Gilmore Girls, where there is an entire episode in Season 3 dedicated to the Poe Society staying at the local Independence Inn, which catches on fire during their stay. Quoth the Raven: “Nevermore!”