The Life of Mark Twain

By Gabriella Jackson-Crowell

  • Samuel Langhorne Clemens is Born

    Samuel Langhorne Clemens is Born
    Mark Twain was born on this day in Florida, Missouri to John and Jane Clemens. His given name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens.

  • Samuel's Early Years

    Samuel's Early Years
    At 4 years old, Samuel and his family moved to Hannibal Missouri. This is where he spent most of his childhood. His father, John, had many occupations including storekeeper, lawyer, judge and land speculator. Even so Samuel's family struggled financially. His mother was very nurturing and good-hearted lady.When John died suddenly Samuel left school after 5th grade‚ to become printer’s apprentice for a local newspaper to help support his family.

  • Clemens Follows His River Boating Dreams

    Clemens Follows His River Boating Dreams
    At 18 Clemens left Hannibal and wrote for many newspapers but what he really wanted to do was be a riverboat pilot. In 1857 Sam began training and became a licensed pilot in 1859. However, when the Civil War broke out these dreams were put on hold.

  • Moving West

    Moving West
    When his river boat career went down the drain, Clemens headed towards the west coast in search of a new one. Tempted by the silver in Nevada he began prospecting. Unfortunately this didn't last long either. Samuel then decided to go back into the newspaper business.

  • Mark Twain is Born

    Mark Twain is Born
    Samuel began working for the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise newspaper and quickly rose to fame as one of the best-known writers on the west coast. This newspaper was also where the pen name Mark Twain was first used. In 1865 "Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frogs" came out really skyrocketing his career. Soon he became one of the most famous writers in America.

  • Twain Settles Down

    Twain Settles Down
    In Febuary of 1870 Mark marries Olivia Langdon. They moved together to Hartford,Connecticut. They had three daughters together in Hartford and Twain also published his most famous books including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and its sequel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

  • Mark Twain Dies

    Mark Twain Dies
    Near the end of Mark's life he began to face bankruptcy and other financial problems. His books also began to turn very dark focusing on greed and humanities flaws. Finaly on April 21,1910 Twain died but his legacy lives on in American literature.