What was the real cuase of Edgar Allan Poe's death?

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2000

Answers

Jonathan,

If there is any historical figure that has died a more mysterious death than Edgar Allan Poe, the name does not jump immediately to mind and consequently, there has been much speculation and many presumptuous opinions and theoretical best guesses over the past 150 years. Today, there appear to be very few known facts that would definitively resolve this issue in the minds of most Poe enthusiasts. Personally, I think the Cooping theory offers the preferable explanation. I say preferable because, to be quite honest, I, nor anyone else knows for certain. What I do know for certain is that in the absence of dramatic and compelling proof, the cause of Edgar A. Poes death will remain unknown.

Some excellent reading on this subject can be found at the Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore website at:

http://www.eapoe.org/geninfo/poedeath.htm .

The article provides some good background and a description of the Alcohol Theory and the Cooping Theory. It also discusses, briefly, the theory offered in 1996 by Dr. R. Michael Benitez that Poe had died as a result of contracting rabies. Personally, I find it to be a presumptuous diagnosis but I am no doctor.

Good luck Jonathan!

-- Anonymous, March 22, 2000

rabies/drinking problem

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2000

HE WAS KILLED BY RABIES OR AT LEAST THATS WHAT I THINK!!!!!!*

-- Anonymous, March 16, 2001

he died only of the cause that he was drunk. thsi is from a muslem

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2002

I personaly believe the cooper theory. Baltimore was known for violent and corrupted elections and gangs would go through great lengnth to ensure there partys sucess. Alchoholism would explain the excessive behavior but is flawed in the sence that a hangover doesnt last for 4 days where rabies and physical abuse to his head would be a stronger diagnosis.

-- Anonymous, September 23, 2003

he is stil alive in heaven

-- Anonymous, October 29, 2003

I hear that he was drunk and some guys beat him to death...

-- Anonymous, October 25, 2004

well i think that Poes death was because he was a crazy insane man who married his own cusin sick

-- Anonymous, October 29, 2004

The real cause of Edgar Allan Poe's death is because of rabies it wasn't a acoholism death. That is what i trully beleive. Reynolds

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2005