Edgar Allan Poe

daguerreotype of Edgar Allan Poe c. 1849, the “Annie” daguerreotype, described at The J. Paul Getty Museum

Birth Name: Edgar Poe

Date of Birth: January 19, 1809

Place of Birth: Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.

Date of Death: October 7, 1849

Place of Death: Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.

Ethnicity: English, as well as one quarter Anglo-Irish/Irish

Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer, editor, and literary critic. He is known for his pioneering work in the horror genre.

He was the second child of actress Elizabeth “Eliza” (Arnold) Hopkins Poe, who was born in London, England, and actor David Poe, Jr., who was born in Baltimore, Maryland. His parents died when he was an infant. Edgar took the name Allan from his foster parents, Frances (Valentine), who was born in Virginia, and John Allan, who was born in Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland, though they never formally adopted him. He married his paternal first cousin, Virginia Eliza Clemm, when she was thirteen years old, in 1835. They were married until her death.

Edgar’s paternal grandfather was “General” David Poe (son of John Poe and Jane McBride). Edgar’s grandfather David was born in Dring, Parish Kildallon, Cavan, Ireland. He emigrated from Cavan to America, around the year 1750. John was the son of David Poe and Sarah Clifford. Jane was the daughter of The Rev. Robert McBride.

Edgar’s paternal grandmother was Elizabeth Cairnes/Carnes (the daughter of Thomas Carnes/Cairnes and Elizabeth Weeks). Edgar’s grandmother Elizabeth was born in Pennsylvania, and was of Colonial American, English, descent. Edgar’s great-grandmother Elizabeth was the daughter of William Weeks and Sarah Woodward.

Edgar’s maternal grandfather was named Henry Arnold.

Edgar’s maternal grandmother was Elizabeth Smith (the daughter of Timothy Smith). Elizabeth was a stage actress in London from 1791 to 1795. Henry died in 1789 and, in November 1795, Elizabeth sailed from England to the U.S. with Edgar’s mother, arriving in Boston, Massachusetts in 1796. Timothy was the son of Samuel Smith and Hannah Page.

Sources: http://www.poeforevermore.com

Genealogies of Edgar Allan Poe – http://www.geni.com
https://frombostontobaltimore.files.wordpress.com
https://www.wikitree.com
https://famouskin.com

Discussion of Edgar’s maternal Arnold ancestry – http://worldofpoe.blogspot.com

6 Responses

  1. Gavinboi says:

    I think his paternal grandfather might have actually been Anglo-Irish rather than Scots-Irish. Cavan is in Ulster, but not modern-day Northern Ireland.

    A lot of English people did settle in modern day Ireland, but unlike Northern Ireland, they didn’t leave much of an ethnic community.

  2. JackB says:

    His ancestry is Irish, not Northern Irish. Cavan where his grandfather David Poe came from is in Southern Ireland.

    • Oaken05 says:

      It is literally in Ulster. Yes, it is not within the political boundaries of Northern Ireland, but borders it. What are you actually talking about with this “Southern Ireland”? lol

      • JackB says:

        His has no connection to Northern Ireland. His ancestry is from the Republic of Ireland.
        There are 9 counties of Ulster. 6 are in the state called Northern Ireland, and 3 counties are in the state known as the Republic of Ireland.
        Then regardless of the fact his ancestry is from the Republic of Ireland, there are still a majority of people in the Northern 6 counties who identify primarily as being from Ireland and not Northern Irish, Scots Irish, Anglo Irish, etc.
        You seem to not have a grasp of Irish identity, or possibly with your attempted point, no grasp of identity in general.

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