Edgar Allan Poe died on October 7, 1849, in Baltimore under mysterious circumstances that remain unresolved to this day. He was found delirious and in distress on October 3 at a tavern called Gunner's Hall, wearing clothes that were not his own, and was taken to Washington Medical College where he died four days later at age 40
. The exact cause of Poe's death is unknown, with many theories proposed:
- Alcohol-related complications: Some contemporaries and early accounts suggested Poe died from alcoholism or alcohol withdrawal delirium, but this is disputed by his attending physician who claimed Poe showed no signs of intoxication at the time of death
- Disease: Various diseases have been suggested, including tuberculosis (possibly meningitis), epilepsy, diabetes, heart disease, syphilis, and rabies. Tuberculosis meningitis is considered plausible given Poe’s symptoms and the prevalence of tuberculosis at the time
- Cooping (voter fraud): Poe was found on election day at a polling place, leading to speculation he was a victim of “cooping,” a form of electoral fraud involving kidnapping, drugging, and forcing victims to vote multiple times, which could explain his disheveled state and strange clothing
- Other theories: Suicide, murder, carbon monoxide poisoning, brain tumor, and heavy metal poisoning have also been suggested but lack strong evidence
Poe’s attending physician, Dr. John J. Moran, reported the cause of death as "phrenitis," an old term for brain inflammation or swelling, which was often a euphemism for death related to alcoholism but could also indicate infection or other brain conditions
. In summary, Poe’s death remains a mystery with no definitive cause established. The most supported theories involve disease (especially tuberculosis meningitis) and the possibility that he was a victim of cooping, with alcohol’s role being uncertain and disputed
