I read many years ago that his symptoms were characteristic of diabetes. And something else I was hoping someone would know, is that hhe was our country's first secret agent?

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2002

Answers

Poe had trouble getting any job from the government much less as an agent. His detective stories, puzzle cypher codes and attempt to solve the mariy Rogers mystery(The Mystery of Marie Roget) a la Conan Doyle may be what you are alluding to. He certainly would not have been averse to posing as an agent to to boost his legend. The condition was probably hypoglycemia and one of many symptoms of his alcoholism. There was a thorough posting on that subject a while ago. Of course, these are just conjectures except for reported symptoms and his admitted alcohol abuse.

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2002