Edgar Allan Poe: Born Jan 19, 1809 in Boston and died in Baltimore on Oct 7, 1849 (yes, only 40 yrs old). "He was the first well-known American writer to try to earn a living through writing alone, resulting in a financially difficult life and career." (Wiki)
The Raven: "First published in Jan 1845." "It tells of a talking raven's mysterious visit to a distraught lover, tracking the man's slow fall into madness. The lover, often identified as being a student, is lamenting the loss of his love, Lenore. Sitting on a bust of Pallas, the raven seems to further instigate his distress with its constant repetition of the word "Nevermore" ". (Wiki)