The exact cause and circumstances of Edgar Allan Poe's death remain a mystery and have never been conclusively determined. Poe was found delirious and in great distress on October 3, 1849, at a tavern in Baltimore, wearing clothes that were not his own. He was taken to Washington Medical College, where he died on October 7 at age 40
. Several theories have been proposed regarding who or what killed Poe:
- Disease: Various illnesses have been suggested, including tuberculosis, diabetes, heart disease, epilepsy, syphilis, brain tumor, and rabies. Rabies is one intriguing possibility suggested by a doctor at the University of Maryland
- Cooping (Electoral Fraud): One widely discussed theory is that Poe was a victim of "cooping," a form of electoral fraud where individuals were kidnapped, intoxicated, disguised in different clothes, and forced to vote multiple times for a candidate. This could explain Poe's delirium, strange clothing, and presence at a polling place. He might have been beaten or roughed up during this process, leading to his death
- Alcohol or Substance Abuse: Although some accounts suggest intoxication, evidence of alcohol's influence is disputed and not definitively proven
- Murder: Some biographers have speculated Poe may have been murdered, including a theory that he was attacked by the brothers of his fiancée, but this remains unproven and speculative
- Other Causes: Suicide and carbon monoxide poisoning have also been suggested but lack strong evidence
No one has been definitively identified as having killed Edgar Allan Poe. The combination of his mysterious condition, lack of clear medical records, and conflicting reports means his death remains an unsolved historical enigma
