Today in History

October 3, 1847

Edgar Allan Poe

On October 3, 1847, the great American poet, critic and novelist Edgar Allan Poe was found delirious on the streets of Baltimore, Maryland. It was election day and he was dressed oddly in another person's clothing. He died four days later at Washington College Hospital on October 7th. The cause of death is unknown and mysterious. All of the medical records from his stay in the hospital disappeared. Many have speculated that Poe was the unwitting victim of "cooping" - a practice of drugging an individual and then forcing him to vote at various precincts in elections. The practice was not unheard of in Baltimore at the time and Poe's death may well have resulted from alcohol poisoning brought about in this manner.

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