Page "Edgar Allan Poe" Paragraph 9

Poe moved back with the Allans to Richmond, Virginia in 1820.

In 1824 Poe served as the lieutenant of the Richmond youth honor guard as Richmond celebrated the visit of the Marquis de Lafayette.

In March 1825, John Allan's uncle and business benefactor William Galt, said to be one of the wealthiest men in Richmond, died and left Allan several acres of real estate.

The inheritance was estimated at $ 750, 000.

By summer 1825, Allan celebrated his expansive wealth by purchasing a two-story brick home named Moldavia.

Poe may have become engaged to Sarah Elmira Royster before he registered at the one-year-old University of Virginia in February 1826 to study languages.

The university, in its infancy, was established on the ideals of its founder, Thomas Jefferson.

It had strict rules against gambling, horses, guns, tobacco and alcohol, but these rules were generally ignored.

Jefferson had enacted a system of student self-government, allowing students to choose their own studies, make their own arrangements for boarding, and report all wrongdoing to the faculty.

The unique system was still in chaos, and there was a high dropout rate.

During his time there, Poe lost touch with Royster and also became estranged from his foster father over gambling debts.

Poe claimed that Allan had not given him sufficient money to register for classes, purchase texts, and procure and furnish a dormitory.

Allan did send additional money and clothes, but Poe's debts increased.

Poe gave up on the university after a year, and, not feeling welcome in Richmond, especially when he learned that his sweetheart Royster had married Alexander Shelton, he traveled to Boston in April 1827, sustaining himself with odd jobs as a clerk and newspaper writer.

At some point he started using the pseudonym Henri Le Rennet.