Who was Edgar Allan Poe's wife and first cousin?

Edgar Allan Poe’s wife and first cousin was Virginia Eliza Clemm Poe, commonly known as Virginia Poe. They married publicly in Richmond, Virginia, on May 16, 1836.

Virginia was the daughter of Maria Poe Clemm, Poe’s aunt. After Virginia’s father died, she lived with her mother and other relatives, and Poe became part of the household for periods of time. Poe was 27 when they married, while Virginia was 13; the marriage record listed her as older, probably because of legal concerns surrounding her age.

Their relationship has been debated by biographers. Some accounts portray the couple as deeply devoted, while others suggest they may have had a bond resembling that of siblings during the early years. Whatever the precise nature of their marriage, Virginia supported Poe’s writing and remained closely connected to his literary life.

Virginia developed tuberculosis and died in the Bronx on January 30, 1847, at age 24. Her illness and death deeply affected Poe and are often discussed alongside the recurring themes of illness, mourning, and the death of young women in his writing.