Birthday bash held at Richmond’s Poe Museum to celebrate Edgar Allan Poe’s 216th birthday

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Ahead of Edgar Allan Poe's 216th birthday on Sunday, the Poe Museum in Richmond held a birthday bash on Saturday to celebrate. On Saturday, Jan. 18, the Poe Museum in Richmond held an "Edgar's Sweet 216th Birthday Bash" event ahead of American writer and poet Edgar Allan Poe's birthday on Sunday, Jan. 19. "Edgar's Sweet 216th Birthday Bash" held at the Poe Museum in Richmond on Saturday, Jan. 18 to celebrate Edgar Allan Poe's birthday. (Photo courtesy: Jakobi Davis, 8News)(Photo courtesy: Jakobi Davis, 8News)(Photo courtesy: Jakobi Davis, 8News) According to the Poe Museum, Poe was born on Jan. 19, 1809 to traveling actors Eliza and David Poe. His father reportedly abandoned the family when Poe was a baby, leaving his mother to support three children. Eliza later contracted tuberculosis and spent the last few months of her life in Richmond. She died on Dec. 8, 1811, at the age of 24. The museum said Poe, who was 2 years old at the time, was then taken in by Richmond couple John and Frances Allan. According to the museum, Poe was never officially adopted by the couple due to constant tensions between him and John. He did not take their last name but became Edgar Allan Poe instead.