Lindsey Graham

He was bitterly disappointed by the abrupt end of his college career and resentful of his foster father Alan's harsh treatment.

He had been raised in a world of privilege, only to suddenly find himself sinking into poverty.

So in the spring of 1827, he moved to Boston, the city of his birth.

To support himself, he enlisted in the U.S.

Army for a five-year term.

He continued writing poems in Boston and soon self-published his first work, Tamerlane and Other Poems.

But he quickly became fed up with the low wages and monotonous routines of military life.

His commanding officer told him that because he was a minor, he needed his guardian's permission to leave early, so he begged his foster father, Allen, to help him out.

But Allen refused.

Then, in February 1829, Poe's foster mother, Frances Allen, also died of tuberculosis.

Loss led to a brief reconciliation between Poe and the grieving John Allen.

And it was during this period that Allen helped Poe leave the regular army and secure admission to the U.S.

Military Academy at West Point.

Poe entered West Point in July 1830, but once again he quickly became restless.

Allen continued withholding money, and later that year, Allen's mistress gave birth to twin sons, making it even more unlikely that Poe would inherit his fortune.

Poe resented his financial circumstances and the rigid discipline at West Point.

He desperately wanted to launch a writing career, but he could not leave West Point without his guardian's consent, and Allen refused to give his permission.

So Poe came up with a desperate plan.

Imagine it's January 1831 in West Point, New York.

You're a cadet at the U.S.