His father abandoned the family in 1810, and his mother died a year later from pulmonary tuberculosis. Poe was then taken into the home of John Allan, a successful merchant in Richmond, Virginia, who dealt in a variety of goods, including cloth, wheat, tombstones, tobacco, and slaves. The Allans served as a foster family and gave him the name "Edgar Allan Poe", although they never formally adopted him.
His father abandoned the family in 1810 and his mother died a year later from pulmonary tuberculosis Poe was then taken into the home of John Allan a successful merchant in Richmond Virginia who dealt in a variety of goods including cloth wheat tombstones tobacco and slaves The Allans served as a foster family and gave him the name "Edgar Allan Poe" although they never formally adopted him