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Mark Was Born
Mark Twain's real name is Samuel Langhorne Clemens. He was born in Florida. His parents were John Marshall and Jane Lampton Clemens -
Mark's Dad Passes
His father John Clemens dies, and it gave the family a hard time financially. -
Mark Works As A Printer
At 15 Samuel leaves school and goes to work as a printer in Hannibal. (Doesn't have exact date, but that is the correct year) -
Works As An Apprentice River Pilot
Samuel Clemens begins a two-year apprenticeship to become a licensed river pilot. He learns the lingo of the trade, including "mark twain," a phrase that refers to the river depth at which a boat is safe to navigate. He then uses it as his pen name. -
Mark's Brother Dies
His youngest brother Henry is killed at the age of 20 in an explosion on the steamboat Pennsylvania. Henry had been training to become a steamboat pilot. Twai feelt responsible for it because he is the one who encouraged his brother. -
Civil War
The Civil War breaks out. Trade along the Mississippi River is halted, endign Twain's steamboat career. Twain spends two weeks training in a volunteer Confederate militia before it disbands. -
Travels West
Twain travels to Nevada with his brother Orion, who had been named the secretary to the territorial governor. He tries his hand at mining and other things, without much success, before becoming a reporter for the Virginia City Daily Territorial Enterprise. -
Mark travels to California
Travels to northern California, visiting Calavaras County before settling in San Francisco. -
He Begins To Lecture
Twain travels to Hawaii as a reporter for San Francisco's Alta California newspaper. When he returns to the mainland a few months later, he gives his first public lecture. -
He Meets Future Wife
Twain is introduced to Olivia "Livy" Langdon, the sister of a friend. He is instantly taken. -
The Innocents Abroad Published
Mark Twain's first book, The Innocents Abroad, becomes a bestseller. -
Clara Clemens Born
Daughter Clara is born -
Jean Clemens Born
Livy Clemens gives birth to the couple's fourth and final child, a daughter named Jean. -
Huck Finn
In the span of less than a year, Twain publishes both his greatest fiction and non-fiction works: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and a biography of President Ulysses S. Grant. -
Last Novel
Pudd'nhead Wilson, Twain's last novel, is published. After ten difficult years, Twain's publishing house, Charles L. Webster & Co., finally goes belly-up. The writer finds himself essentially bankrupt. Close friend Henry Huttleston Rogers takes over his finances, saving him from complete disaster. -
Death of Susy Clemens
Twain's 24-year-old daughter Susy dies of meningitis in the U.S. while Twain is lecturing in Europe. Twain, who was particularly close to his oldest daughter, is devastated. He never fully recovers from her death, which marks the end of his most successful period as a writer. -
Death of Livy Clemens
Twain's wife Livy dies after a serious two-year illness. Following his wife's death, Twain moves to New York City and begins writing his autobiography. -
Family Troubles
Twain's youngest daughter Jean is institutionalized due to severe epilepsy. Twain's biographer, Albert Bigelow Paine, moves in with Twain to collect material. -
Death of Jean Clemens
Twain's youngest daughter Jean Clemens dies. -
Death of Mark Twain
Mark Twain dies at the age of 74 at his home in Redding, Connecticut. -
"Jumping Frog" Published
The short story "Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog" (later "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calavaras County") appears in the New York Saturday Press. The story gets extremely popular and raises Twain's profile as a writer.
