American football legend and Black Watch soldier. Johnny Poe's life was one of continuous striving for glory. He spent his childhood in Baltimore, as a member of the city's prominent Poe family. His father served a term as Maryland's attorney general and Johnny was a second cousin to author Edgar Allan Poe. In 1891, he followed two older brothers to Princeton. His college years coincided with a time when football, especially in the Ivy Leagues, was just developing into a favorite American sport. Johnny's talent on the field was quickly noticed and he landed on the varsity team as a freshman. Unfortunately, his dedication to the team came at the cost of his studies. After failing out that spring, he re-enrolled in fall of 1892 and rejoined the team as quarterback. Princeton's team again had a phenomenal year due to Johnny's strength and agility on the field; yet again he was forced out of school for academic reasons. However, his fellow members of the Princeton class of 1895 always considered him to be one of their most admired classmates.
After Princeton, he pursued various jobs such as selling real estate, prospecting for gold, and working on a steamboat. He also spent a year in New Mexico working on the ranch of Hugh Hodge, a fellow friend from the class of '95. Eventually, he made his way back to Princeton serving as assistant football coach with Garrett Cochran for two seasons, leading the team to a national championship. Johnny's passion for adventure and a brief stint with the Maryland National Guard during the Spanish-American War led to his decision to pursue the military life. After bouncing among different battles in Nicaragua and Honduras as a soldier of fortune, Johnny saw the outbreak of World War I in Europe as his one last opportunity to make his mark.
He traveled to Canada, enlisted in the British Army, and eventually made his way into the ancient Scottish Regiment named the Black Watch, which perfectly matched his desire for romantic military glory. During the Battle of Loos, he was shot in the stomach while delivering shells. Johnny's death in battle, combined with his adventurous life, contributed to the his lasting legacy with the school from which he never graduated. Classmates and friends helped to create Poe Field on the Princeton campus and the John Prentiss Poe, Jr., Football Cup is awarded each year to Princeton's most valuable player.
Johnny Poe's actual burial site is unknown. It is only identified in a letter from Captain Lumsden of the Black Watch as being near a site on the battlefield known as "Lone Tree." Johnny's name is inscribed on the Battle of Loos memorial. His name is also inscribed on the Black Watch Roll of Honor at Edinburgh Castle.
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Service No: S/11634
Age: 41
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), 1st Bn.
Son of the late John Prentiss Poe and Anne Johnson Poe.
After Princeton, he pursued various jobs such as selling real estate, prospecting for gold, and working on a steamboat. He also spent a year in New Mexico working on the ranch of Hugh Hodge, a fellow friend from the class of '95. Eventually, he made his way back to Princeton serving as assistant football coach with Garrett Cochran for two seasons, leading the team to a national championship. Johnny's passion for adventure and a brief stint with the Maryland National Guard during the Spanish-American War led to his decision to pursue the military life. After bouncing among different battles in Nicaragua and Honduras as a soldier of fortune, Johnny saw the outbreak of World War I in Europe as his one last opportunity to make his mark.
He traveled to Canada, enlisted in the British Army, and eventually made his way into the ancient Scottish Regiment named the Black Watch, which perfectly matched his desire for romantic military glory. During the Battle of Loos, he was shot in the stomach while delivering shells. Johnny's death in battle, combined with his adventurous life, contributed to the his lasting legacy with the school from which he never graduated. Classmates and friends helped to create Poe Field on the Princeton campus and the John Prentiss Poe, Jr., Football Cup is awarded each year to Princeton's most valuable player.
Johnny Poe's actual burial site is unknown. It is only identified in a letter from Captain Lumsden of the Black Watch as being near a site on the battlefield known as "Lone Tree." Johnny's name is inscribed on the Battle of Loos memorial. His name is also inscribed on the Black Watch Roll of Honor at Edinburgh Castle.
-----
Service No: S/11634
Age: 41
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), 1st Bn.
Son of the late John Prentiss Poe and Anne Johnson Poe.
American football legend and Black Watch soldier. Johnny Poe's life was one of continuous striving for glory. He spent his childhood in Baltimore, as a member of the city's prominent Poe family. His father served a term as Maryland's attorney general and Johnny was a second cousin to author Edgar Allan Poe. In 1891, he followed two older brothers to Princeton. His college years coincided with a time when football, especially in the Ivy Leagues, was just developing into a favorite American sport. Johnny's talent on the field was quickly noticed and he landed on the varsity team as a freshman. Unfortunately, his dedication to the team came at the cost of his studies. After failing out that spring, he re-enrolled in fall of 1892 and rejoined the team as quarterback. Princeton's team again had a phenomenal year due to Johnny's strength and agility on the field; yet again he was forced out of school for academic reasons. However, his fellow members of the Princeton class of 1895 always considered him to be one of their most admired classmates.
After Princeton, he pursued various jobs such as selling real estate, prospecting for gold, and working on a steamboat. He also spent a year in New Mexico working on the ranch of Hugh Hodge, a fellow friend from the class of '95. Eventually, he made his way back to Princeton serving as assistant football coach with Garrett Cochran for two seasons, leading the team to a national championship. Johnny's passion for adventure and a brief stint with the Maryland National Guard during the Spanish-American War led to his decision to pursue the military life. After bouncing among different battles in Nicaragua and Honduras as a soldier of fortune, Johnny saw the outbreak of World War I in Europe as his one last opportunity to make his mark.
He traveled to Canada, enlisted in the British Army, and eventually made his way into the ancient Scottish Regiment named the Black Watch, which perfectly matched his desire for romantic military glory. During the Battle of Loos, he was shot in the stomach while delivering shells. Johnny's death in battle, combined with his adventurous life, contributed to the his lasting legacy with the school from which he never graduated. Classmates and friends helped to create Poe Field on the Princeton campus and the John Prentiss Poe, Jr., Football Cup is awarded each year to Princeton's most valuable player.
Johnny Poe's actual burial site is unknown. It is only identified in a letter from Captain Lumsden of the Black Watch as being near a site on the battlefield known as "Lone Tree." Johnny's name is inscribed on the Battle of Loos memorial. His name is also inscribed on the Black Watch Roll of Honor at Edinburgh Castle.
-----
Service No: S/11634
Age: 41
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), 1st Bn.
Son of the late John Prentiss Poe and Anne Johnson Poe.
After Princeton, he pursued various jobs such as selling real estate, prospecting for gold, and working on a steamboat. He also spent a year in New Mexico working on the ranch of Hugh Hodge, a fellow friend from the class of '95. Eventually, he made his way back to Princeton serving as assistant football coach with Garrett Cochran for two seasons, leading the team to a national championship. Johnny's passion for adventure and a brief stint with the Maryland National Guard during the Spanish-American War led to his decision to pursue the military life. After bouncing among different battles in Nicaragua and Honduras as a soldier of fortune, Johnny saw the outbreak of World War I in Europe as his one last opportunity to make his mark.
He traveled to Canada, enlisted in the British Army, and eventually made his way into the ancient Scottish Regiment named the Black Watch, which perfectly matched his desire for romantic military glory. During the Battle of Loos, he was shot in the stomach while delivering shells. Johnny's death in battle, combined with his adventurous life, contributed to the his lasting legacy with the school from which he never graduated. Classmates and friends helped to create Poe Field on the Princeton campus and the John Prentiss Poe, Jr., Football Cup is awarded each year to Princeton's most valuable player.
Johnny Poe's actual burial site is unknown. It is only identified in a letter from Captain Lumsden of the Black Watch as being near a site on the battlefield known as "Lone Tree." Johnny's name is inscribed on the Battle of Loos memorial. His name is also inscribed on the Black Watch Roll of Honor at Edinburgh Castle.
-----
Service No: S/11634
Age: 41
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), 1st Bn.
Son of the late John Prentiss Poe and Anne Johnson Poe.
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