Final answer:
Edgar Allan Poe attended the University of Virginia in 1826 but left after a year due to financial and personal issues. His studies there influenced his career as a writer and poet.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is referring to Edgar Allan Poe, who attended the University of Virginia in 1826. This university, founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819, was an esteemed institution where Poe studied languages including Latin, Greek, French, Spanish, and Italian. Although exceptionally talented, financial difficulties and personal struggles hindered his academic success, leading to his eventual departure from the university after a year. Edgar Allan Poe's later career as a writer, poet, and literary critic was profoundly influenced by his time at the university, despite the short duration of his attendance. The university remains notable for its classical curriculum and its historic significance in American higher education.