Frances Sargent Osgood

Frances Sargent Osgood (nee Locke) (June 18, 1811 – May 12, 1850) was an American poet. Nicknamed "Fanny," she was famous for her exchange of romantic poems with Edgar Allan Poe.

Life
She was born in Boston, Massachusetts to Joseph Locke and Mary Ingersoll. She had an older sister, Anna Maria Wells, who would also become a published poet. Her poetry was published from an early age, first by editor Lydia Maria Child in a book of children's poetry. After meeting through a portrait sitting, Frances married painter Samuel Stillman Osgood on October 7, 1835, with whom she had at least two children, possibly three. After their marriage, the couple spent five years in England. While in England, she published her collection A Wreath of Flowers from New England. Returning to America to live in New York, Osgood became a popular member of the New York literary society and a prolific writer. She was one of the more well-known female poets of her time.

She died of tuberculosis in 1850.

Appearance
Edgar Allan Poe spoke of Osgood as being "about medium height and slender; complexion usually pale; hair black and glossy; eyes a clear, luminous grey, large and with great capacity for expression."

Relationship with Edgar Allan Poe
In February of 1845, Poe gave a lecture in New York in which he criticized American poetry, especially Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. He made special mention, however, of Osgood, saying she had "a rosy future" in literature. Though she missed the lecture, she wrote to her friend, saying Poe was "called the severest critic of the day," making his compliment that much more impressive.

It is believed Poe and Osgood first met in person in March of that year when Osgood had been separated from (but not divorced from) her husband. Poe's wife Virginia was still alive, but in ill health. Poe may have been attracted to Osgood because they were both born in Boston and possibly due to her childlike qualities which were similar to Virginia's. She may have already been in an early stage of tuberculosis, just like Virginia.

Poe used his role as one-third owner of the Broadway Journal to print some of her poems, including some flirtatious ones, often under pseudonyms Kate Carol or Violet Vane. Poe responded with published poems of his own, occasionally under his own pseudonym of Edgar T.S. Grey. Most notable is his poem "A Valentine." The poem is actually a riddle which conceals Osgood's name, found by taking letter 1 from line 1, letter 2 from line 2, and so on.

Oddly, Poe's wife Virginia approved of the relationship and often invited Osgood to visit their home. Virginia believed their friendship had a "restraining" effect on her husband. Poe had given up alcohol to impress Osgood, for example. Virginia may also have been aware of her own impending death and was looking for someone who would take care of Poe. Others, however, were not as supportive; Osgood and Poe were widely criticized and harassed for their relationship. Another poetess, Elizabeth Ellett, whose affection Poe had scorned, spread rumors about Poe and Osgood's friendship, even contacting Virginia about alleged improprieties. Ellett even suggested that Osgood's third child, Fanny Fay, was not her husband's but Poe's. Fanny Fay was born in June of 1846 but died in October. Osgood, in an attempt to protect her public character, sent Margaret Fuller and Anne Lynch to request Poe return her personal letters to him to be destroyed.

Poe was not the only man to engage in literary flirtation with Osgood. Several men wrote of their affection for her, including Rufus Wilmot Griswold. Osgood actually dedicated a book of poetry to Griswold. The competition between Griswold and Poe for Osgood may have lead to their infamous rivalry, best exemplified in Griswold's character assassination of Poe after his death (see Death of Edgar Allan Poe).