Edgar Allan Poe (January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, editor and critic best known for his poetry and stories, especially his tales of mystery and macabre circumstances. He is a key figure in American literature and Romanticism, an early practitioner of the short story, and is considered the inventor of the detective story. Born the second child of two actors in Boston, his father abandoned the family the following year and his mother died a year later. He was taken in by John and Frances Allan of Richmond, Virginia, and lived with them until he reached young adulthood.  Lack of funds forced him to leave the University of Virginia after a year. In 1827 joined the army under an assumed name and published his first book of poems. He failed as a West Point cadet and turned to writing for literary publications, where he gained recognition for his unique style of criticism.  He was the first American to attempt to earn a living exclusively from writing, which resulted in frequent financial difficulties and forced him to move among several cities. Publication of “The Raven” in 1845 was an immediate hit.  He died at age 40 in Baltimore of unknown causes, a source of speculation. His body of work has been consistently popular and has influenced writers around the world ever since. The Edgar, an award presented by the Mystery Writers of America for distinguished work in the mystery genre, is named after him.