John William Polidori was clarified as the author of "The Vampyre" after the second edition of the book was published, but sadly it was too late to cement his literary reputation or to change the course of his short and ultimately tragic life.

Byron dismissed Polidori — with whom he had always had a difficult relationship, purportedly due to Polidori's jealous nature around the charismatic Lord — in September 1816, and though Polidori would later be rightly identified as the author of "The Vampyre," the fact that his story was based on Byron's idea led to accusations of plagiarism, withholding from Polidori the literary acclaim he craved, according to the scholar Mair Rigby.

Polidori returned to medicine and later studied for the bar, but the doctor also developed a gambling habit which saw him end up in severe debt, according to William Michael Rossetti, his nephew and the editor of Polidori's diaries. On August 24, 1821, Polidori committed suicide by poison in a manner he had discussed with Byron years earlier, though for the sake of Polidori's family the coroner deemed his death to be due to a "visitation from God." He was 25.

Byron claimed to have had a premonition that a friend was to die on the day of Polidori's suicide, and famously uttered "Poor Polidori is gone," upon hearing the news, adding "It seems disappointment was the cause of this rash act."

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7qL7Up56eZpOkunCFlm9scm9frLWwedGemKWkqWLEs7vTnmStoJVis6q%2B0q1kpqeUmr%2BvedWapKmhopp6tMDOq7Bo