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Edgar Allan Poe was born on January 19th, 1809. His mother, Elizabeth Arnold Hopkins and father David Poe Jr. were both traveling actors who both died when he was two or three years old. Some say his father just simply disappeared and others say that he died. His mother died of pneumonia. Two weeks after Elizabeth’s death the theater in Richmond caught on fire killing seventy-five people. After her death she left a jewel box for Rosalie and a painting of the port of Boston for Edgar. Edgar’s new painting left a note for him that said, “Love the place of his birth where I found best and most sympathetic friends.” (Mankowitz 20) Poe’s sister was taken to Mrs. Mackenzie after their mothers’ death. The Allan’s in Richmond, Virginia adopted Poe when he was three years old. Poe’s new father was a carrier and a shipper of mainly tobacco with his partner Charles Ellis, a former clerk. John Allan and Charles Ellis had a farm that enabled them to deal everything from wheat and hay to wines and coffee, tom even horses, pigs, and slaves. John Allan also baptized him when he was little. John Allan wanted to leave Poe back in Richmond when he and the family went to Liverpool, England. He went to school in England from 1815 t