Baby Poe's Story
Baby Poe's Story begins many years before his birth in 1809. The following entries highlight important events, people and places that contribute to his incredible life.
Liberty Hall: Alexandria's Home of Entertainment was built in 1799 by Thomas Wade West, an actor and theatre builder. Here Eliza Arnold Hopkins Poe (Baby Poe’s mother to be, in a few more years) performed with Mr. Green’s Virginia Company.
Eliza Hopkins: In 1803 while performing with Matthew Sully the brother of artist Thomas Sully, this only known portrait of Poe's mother to be, was painted by the artist. Later, Thomas Sully will instruct another artist in Philadelphia, who will eventually paint a portrait of Baby Poe.
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Mrs. Poe
Library of Congress, Washington, DC
Baby Poe was born in Boston on January 19, 1809 in a boarding house, #62 Carver Street. Only two weeks earlier, Eliza Poe, his mother was still performing nearby at Federal Street Theater. He was given the name Edgar (Allan would be added later) after one of the stage managers there.