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Why did Edgar Allan Poe enlist in the U.S. Army under the name Edgar A. Perry?
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Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe.
Edgar Allan Poe enlisted in the U.S. Army under the pseudonym Edgar A. Perry primarily due to financial hardship. Following his departure from the University of Virginia and a subsequent falling out with his guardian, John Allan, Poe faced significant poverty, which compelled him to seek military service as a means of support.1