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Lifespan of Mark Twain
Mark Twain was born on November 30, 1835 in Florida. His family moved westward 4 times prior to Marks birth.
Mark Twain died of an illness at the age of seventy-four. His life was greatly missed by readers young and old from Europe to America. -
Boyhood
Mark and his family move to Hannibal, MO. This is where he spends most of his childhood and creates dreams and goals. He becomes attached to the Mississippi river that runs through the town and the steamboats that would stop at his city three times daily captivated him. Marks dream became to be a steamboat captain. -
Death of Marks Father
Mark Twain was eleven when his father died of what is believed to be pneumonia. -
First Job
Mark Twains brother, Orion, got him his first job as an occasional writer/editor for the Hannibal Western Union newspaper. -
Apprentice River Pilot
At age twenty-one, Mark finally fulfilled his long dreamt wish, he began learning how to pilot a steamboat on the Mississippi River. -
Twains Brother Dies Tragically
Mark Twain has a horrible dream several days before his brothers actual death. He dreamed his brother was in a metal coffin with a bouquet of white roses and a single red on in the center. Twain was seperated from his brothers steamboat because he could not get along with Brown. His younger brother remained on the Pennsylvania steamboat.The steamboats boiler exploded, leaving his brother only a few days to live. When he died his brother saw the reenactment of his nightmare which haunted him. -
Civil War
Twains career as a steamboat captain ends because trade along the Mississippi River is halted. He joins the confederate army training volunteers militia. It only lasts a few weeks because the unit disbands. -
Moving West
The journey West begins. Twain hopes that in Nevada and California he can save his troubled family by panning and ming for gold and silver. This doesnt work out too well and he becomes flat and broke. He found a new job as a writer for the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise newspaper. This is where his talent took flight. -
"Jumping Frog" is Published
This story raises his popularity as a writer. "Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog" was published in several magazines and newspapers, it also appeared later in various titles. -
Twains First Book is Published
"The Innocents Abroad" is published and becomes a bestseller. -
Marriage to Olivia Langdon
He marries a rich New York coal merchants daughter, Olivia (Livy) Langdon. He also has his first son, Langdon, later that year. He writes after the wedding to his friend that he could not believe his luck. Thats she was the gentlest nd daintiest woman ever. A gem of womankind. He hoped she would reform him from his rustic ways. -
A Tragic And Joyful Year
Mark and his family move to Hartford, Connecticut. There he publishes "Roughing It" and his first daughter, Susy, is born. Sadly, his first son dies that same year from diphtheria. -
Clara Clemens is Born
Clara clemens is the only one of Twains children to outlive her father. -
Adventures of Tom Sawyer
"Adventures of Tom Sawyer' is published and soon after Mark Twain begins working on a sequel. -
Jean Clemens is Born
Jean is the fourth and final child. -
Twain Founds His Own Publishing Co.
He names it Charles L. Webster & Co. after his nephew. Unfortunately the company brings alot of struggle to the family which will eventually destroy his familys finances and make them broke. -
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Within a year, Mark Twain publishes his sequel to "Tom Sawyer" and a biography of President Ulysses S. Grant. -
European Life
Mark decides to take his family to Europe. Life was cheaper there and his family was still struggling financially. -
Pudd'nhead Wilson
At age 59, Twain publishes his last book. His close friend, Henry Huddlston Rogers, saves him from financial disaster when Twains publishing company dies. -
His Favorite Daughter Dies
A devastating event for Mark. His favorite daughter, Susy, dies of meningitis at age 24. Her death puts an end to his career as a writer for he cannot get over the loss. -
Beloved Livy Passes Away
Livy passes away in Italy after battling a two-year long illness. Mark Twain couldnt spend so much time with her while she was passing away. "Wheresoever she was, there was Eden," he wrote in tribute to her. He then moved to New York, where he began writing his autobiography. -
The Angelfish Club
Mark becomes lonely without his wife and daughters. His daughter Jean was diagnosed with sever epilepsy in the mid 1890's. To battle his loneliness he forms the Angelfish club to play cards with young girls. -
Jean Passes Away
At age 29, Jean dies from a heart attack. -
Famous Writer Dies Heartbroken
Mark Twain dies in his home in Redding, Connecticut. He lived 74 long years, accomplishing his dreams but surviving mny tragedies at the end of his life. Many say he was bitter in his last decade. Him and his last living daughter Clara did not get along too well, therefore, had a long distance relationship.