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Mark Twain was Born
His birth name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens. He was born in Florida, MO. He was the sixth child of John Marshall and Jane Lampton Clemons. -
Family Makes a Move
Four years after his birth, the Clemens family moves to Hannibal, Missouri, a riverbank town that is a frequent stop for steamboats traveling through Missouri. Young Samuel soon becomes very interested in the riverboat pilots, and hopes to become one himself. -
Everyone Suffers a Huge Loss
Almost 10 years after the move, Samuel's father, John Marshall Clemens, has passed away. Forcing the family to go into financial hardship. -
Twain Travels
After the Civil War broke out, changing jobs from a printer to a river pilot, and the death of his brother, Twain travels West and ends up in northern California. Visiting Calavaras County before settling in San Francisco. -
Twain Publishes his First Story
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 proves extremely popular and raises Twain's profile as a writer. -
Twain Meets the Love of his Life
Twain is introduced to Olivia "Livy" Langdon, the sister of a friend. He is instantly interested. Later marrying her on February 2, 1870. -
Mark Twain Releases his First Book
Mark Twain's first book, The Innocents Abroad, becomes a bestseller. -
Twain Becomes a Father
Mark and his wife Olivia have their first son Langdon. Sadly he passes away of diphtheria at only 19 months, on June 2, 1872. -
Twain's Life in Connecticut
Twain moves his family to Hartford, Connecticut. Where he published Roughing It, the memoir of his years in the West. The year is one of tragedy and joy—the couple's daughter Susy, also known as Olivia Susan, is born, but their son Langdon passes. -
The Gilded Age
Twain publishes the satiric novel The Gilded Age, its title giving a name to an entire time period of American history. His most successful invention, the self-pasting scrapbook, makes its debut the same year. -
Clara Clemons
Clara Langhorne Clemens was the only daughter of Twain's to outlive him. -
Final Child Born
Jane Lampton "Jean" Clemens was the youngest of the three daughters. -
Huckleberry 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 -
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. -
Livy Passes
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. -
Jean Passes
The youngest of 3 daughters passed away by drowning in her bathtub. -
Death of Mark Twain
Mark Twain dies at the age of 74 at his home in Redding, Connecticut. -
Works Cited
Shmoop Editorial Team. "Mark Twain Timeline of Important Dates." Shmoop. Shmoop University, 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 02 Mar. 2017.
