Mark Mark TwainTwain

18351835 - - 19101910

Samuel Clemens Samuel Clemens was born on was born on November 30, November 30, 1835 in Florida, 1835 in Florida, Missouri, the Missouri, the sixth of seven sixth of seven children. At the children. At the age of four, Sam age of four, Sam and his family and his family moved to the moved to the small frontier small frontier town of Hannibal, town of Hannibal, Missouri on the Missouri on the banks of the banks of the Mississippi River. Mississippi River.

Missouri, at the time, Missouri, at the time, was a fairly new state (it was a fairly new state (it had gained statehood in had gained statehood in 1820) and comprised 1820) and comprised part of the country's part of the country's western border. It was western border. It was also a slave state. Sam's also a slave state. Sam's father owned one slave father owned one slave and his uncle owned and his uncle owned several. In fact, it was on several. In fact, it was on his uncle's farm that his uncle's farm that Sam spent many Sam spent many boyhood summers boyhood summers playing in the slave playing in the slave quarters, listening to quarters, listening to tall tales and the slave tall tales and the slave spirituals that he would spirituals that he would enjoy throughout his enjoy throughout his life.life.

In 1847, when Sam In 1847, when Sam was 11, his father was 11, his father died. Shortly died. Shortly thereafter he left thereafter he left school, having school, having completed the fifth completed the fifth grade, to work as a grade, to work as a printer's apprentice printer's apprentice for a local newspaper. for a local newspaper. His job was to arrange His job was to arrange the type for each of the type for each of the newspaper's the newspaper's stories, allowing Sam stories, allowing Sam to read the news of to read the news of the world while the world while completing his work. completing his work.

At 18, Sam headed At 18, Sam headed east to New York east to New York City and City and Philadelphia Philadelphia where he worked where he worked on several on several different different newspapers and newspapers and found some found some success at writing success at writing articles. By 1857, articles. By 1857, he had returned he had returned home to embark home to embark on a new career as on a new career as a riverboat pilot a riverboat pilot on the Mississippi on the Mississippi River. River.

With the outbreak of the With the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, however, Civil War in 1861, however, all traffic along the river all traffic along the river came to a halt, as did Sam's came to a halt, as did Sam's pilot career. Inspired by the pilot career. Inspired by the times, Sam joined a times, Sam joined a volunteer Confederate unit volunteer Confederate unit called the Marion Rangers, called the Marion Rangers, but he quit after just two but he quit after just two weeks.weeks.

In search of a new In search of a new career, Sam headed west career, Sam headed west in July of 1861, at the in July of 1861, at the invitation of his brother, invitation of his brother, Orion, who had just been Orion, who had just been appointed Secretary of appointed Secretary of the Nevada Territory. the Nevada Territory. Lured by the infectious Lured by the infectious hope of striking it rich in hope of striking it rich in Nevada's silver rush, Nevada's silver rush, Sam traveled across the Sam traveled across the open frontier from open frontier from Missouri to Nevada by Missouri to Nevada by stagecoach. Along the stagecoach. Along the journey Sam journey Sam encountered Native encountered Native American tribes for the American tribes for the first time as well as a first time as well as a variety of unique variety of unique characters, mishaps and characters, mishaps and disappointments. These disappointments. These events would find a way events would find a way into his short stories and into his short stories and books, particularly books, particularly Roughing It.Roughing It.

Along the journeyAlong the journey

Sam encountered Sam encountered Native American Native American tribes for the first tribes for the first time as well as a time as well as a variety of unique variety of unique characters, characters, mishaps and mishaps and disappointments. disappointments. These events These events would find a way would find a way into his short into his short stories and books, stories and books, particularly particularly Roughing It.Roughing It.

After failing as a After failing as a silver prospector, silver prospector, Sam began writing Sam began writing for the for the Territorial Territorial Enterprise,Enterprise, a a Virginia City, Virginia City, Nevada newspaper Nevada newspaper where he used, for where he used, for the first time, his the first time, his pen name, Mark pen name, Mark Twain. Wanting a Twain. Wanting a change by 1864, change by 1864, Sam headed for Sam headed for San Francisco San Francisco where he where he continued to write continued to write for local papers.for local papers.

Mark Twain’s House in San Francisco

In 1865, Sam's first In 1865, Sam's first "big break" came with "big break" came with the publication of his the publication of his short story, "Jim Smiley short story, "Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog" and His Jumping Frog" in papers across the in papers across the country. A year later, country. A year later, Sam was hired by the Sam was hired by the Sacramento UnionSacramento Union to to visit and report on the visit and report on the Sandwich Islands (now Sandwich Islands (now Hawaii). His writings Hawaii). His writings were so popular that, were so popular that, upon his return, he upon his return, he embarked upon his first embarked upon his first lecture tour, which lecture tour, which established him as a established him as a successful stage successful stage performer. performer.

Hired by the Hired by the Alta CaliforniaAlta California to to continue his travel writing from the continue his travel writing from the east, Sam arrived in New York City in east, Sam arrived in New York City in 1867. He quickly signed up for a 1867. He quickly signed up for a steamship tour of Europe and the steamship tour of Europe and the Holy Land. His travel letters, full of Holy Land. His travel letters, full of vivid descriptions and tongue-in-vivid descriptions and tongue-in-cheek observations, met with such cheek observations, met with such audience approval that they were audience approval that they were later reworked into his first book, later reworked into his first book, The Innocents AbroadThe Innocents Abroad in 1869. It was in 1869. It was also on this trip that Clemens met his also on this trip that Clemens met his future brother-in-law, Charles future brother-in-law, Charles Langdon. Langdon reportedly showed Langdon. Langdon reportedly showed Sam a picture of his sister, Olivia, Sam a picture of his sister, Olivia, and Sam fell in love at first sight.and Sam fell in love at first sight.

After courting for After courting for two years, Sam two years, Sam Clemens and Olivia Clemens and Olivia (Livy) Langdon (Livy) Langdon were married in were married in 1870. They settled 1870. They settled in Buffalo, New in Buffalo, New York where Sam York where Sam had become a had become a partner, editor and partner, editor and writer for the daily writer for the daily newspaper the newspaper the Buffalo Express.Buffalo Express. While living in While living in Buffalo, their first Buffalo, their first child, Langdon child, Langdon Clemens was born. Clemens was born.

In an effort to be In an effort to be closer to his closer to his publisher, Sam publisher, Sam moved his family to moved his family to Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut in Connecticut in 1871. For the first 1871. For the first few years the few years the Clemenses rented Clemenses rented a house in the a house in the heart of Nook heart of Nook Farm, a residential Farm, a residential area that was home area that was home to numerous to numerous writers, publishers writers, publishers and other and other prominent figuresprominent figures

For the next 17 years For the next 17 years (1874-1891), Sam, (1874-1891), Sam, Livy and their three Livy and their three daughters (Clara was daughters (Clara was born in 1874 and Jean born in 1874 and Jean in 1880) lived in the in 1880) lived in the Hartford home. Hartford home. During those years During those years Sam completed some Sam completed some of his most famous of his most famous works. Novels such as works. Novels such as The Adventures of The Adventures of Tom SawyerTom Sawyer (1876) (1876) and and Life on the Life on the MississippiMississippi (1883) (1883) captured both his captured both his Missouri memories Missouri memories and depictions of the and depictions of the American scene. Yet, American scene. Yet, his social commentary his social commentary continued.continued.

The Prince and the The Prince and the PauperPauper (1881) (1881) explored class explored class relations as does relations as does A A Connecticut Connecticut Yankee in King Yankee in King Arthur's CourtArthur's Court (1889) which, (1889) which, going a step going a step further, criticized further, criticized oppression in oppression in general while general while examining the examining the period's technology period's technology explosion. explosion.

The Adventures of Tom The Adventures of Tom SawyerSawyer

And, in perhaps his And, in perhaps his most famous work, most famous work, Adventures of Adventures of Huckleberry FinnHuckleberry Finn (1884) Clemens (1884) Clemens satirized the satirized the institution of institution of slavery and railed slavery and railed against the failures against the failures of Reconstruction of Reconstruction and the continued and the continued poor treatment of poor treatment of African-Americans African-Americans overall.overall.

Adventures of Huckleberry Adventures of Huckleberry FinnFinn

Huckleberry FinnHuckleberry Finn was also the first was also the first book published by Sam's own book published by Sam's own publishing company, The Charles publishing company, The Charles L. Webster Company. In an L. Webster Company. In an attempt to gain control over attempt to gain control over publication as well as to make publication as well as to make substantial profits, Sam created substantial profits, Sam created the publishing company in 1884. A the publishing company in 1884. A year later, he contracted with year later, he contracted with Ulysses S. Grant to publish Grant's Ulysses S. Grant to publish Grant's memoirs; the two-volume set memoirs; the two-volume set provided large royalties for Grant's provided large royalties for Grant's widow and was a financial success widow and was a financial success for the publisher as well. for the publisher as well.

Although Sam enjoyed financial success Although Sam enjoyed financial success during his Hartford years, he continually during his Hartford years, he continually made bad investments in new inventions, made bad investments in new inventions, which eventually brought him to which eventually brought him to bankruptcy. In an effort to economize and bankruptcy. In an effort to economize and pay back his debts, Sam and Livy moved pay back his debts, Sam and Livy moved their family to Europe in 1891. When his their family to Europe in 1891. When his publishing company failed in 1894, Sam publishing company failed in 1894, Sam was forced to set out on a worldwide was forced to set out on a worldwide lecture tour to earn money. In 1896, lecture tour to earn money. In 1896, tragedy struck when Suzy Clemens, at the tragedy struck when Suzy Clemens, at the age of 24, died from meningitis while on a age of 24, died from meningitis while on a visit to the Hartford home. Unable to visit to the Hartford home. Unable to return to the place of her death, the return to the place of her death, the Clemenses never returned to Hartford to Clemenses never returned to Hartford to live. live.

From 1891 until 1900, From 1891 until 1900, Sam and his family Sam and his family traveled throughout the traveled throughout the world. During those world. During those years, Sam witnessed years, Sam witnessed the increasing the increasing exploitation of weaker exploitation of weaker governments by governments by European powers, which European powers, which he described in his he described in his book, book, Following the Following the EquatorEquator (1897). The (1897). The Boer War in South Boer War in South Africa and the Boxer Africa and the Boxer Rebellion in China Rebellion in China fueled his growing fueled his growing anger toward anger toward imperialistic countries imperialistic countries and their actions. With and their actions. With the Spanish-American the Spanish-American and Philippine War in and Philippine War in 1898, Sam's wrath was 1898, Sam's wrath was redirected toward the redirected toward the American government.American government.

1877 portrait of Samuel L. Clemens by Frank Millet who lost his life aboard the Titanic when it sank in April, 1912. Clara Clemens Gabrilowitsch donated the portrait to the Hannibal, Missouri Free Public Library.Photo courtesy of Dave Thomson.

When he returned to When he returned to the United States in the United States in 1900, his finances 1900, his finances restored, Sam readily restored, Sam readily declared himself an declared himself an anti-imperialist and, anti-imperialist and, from 1901 until his from 1901 until his death, served as the death, served as the vice president of the vice president of the Anti-Imperialist League. Anti-Imperialist League. In these later years, In these later years, Sam's writings turned Sam's writings turned dark. They began to dark. They began to focus on human greed, focus on human greed, cruelty and questioned cruelty and questioned the humanity of the the humanity of the human race. human race.

His public His public appearances appearances followed suit and followed suit and included a harshly included a harshly sardonic public sardonic public introduction of introduction of Winston Churchill in Winston Churchill in 1900. Even though 1900. Even though Sam's lecture tour Sam's lecture tour had managed to get had managed to get him out of debt, his him out of debt, his anti-government anti-government writings and writings and speeches threatened speeches threatened his livelihood once his livelihood once again. again.

Labeled by some as a Labeled by some as a traitor, several of traitor, several of Sam's works were Sam's works were never published during never published during his lifetime either his lifetime either because magazines because magazines would not accept them would not accept them or because of a or because of a personal fear that his personal fear that his marketable reputation marketable reputation would be ruined.would be ruined.

In 1903, after living in In 1903, after living in New York City for three New York City for three years, Livy became ill years, Livy became ill and Sam and his wife and Sam and his wife returned to Italy where returned to Italy where she died a year latershe died a year later

After her death, Sam After her death, Sam lived in New York lived in New York until 1908 when he until 1908 when he moved into his last moved into his last house, "Stormfield", in house, "Stormfield", in Redding, Connecticut. Redding, Connecticut. In 1909, his middle In 1909, his middle daughter Clara was daughter Clara was married. In the same married. In the same year Jean, the year Jean, the youngest daughter, youngest daughter, died from an epileptic died from an epileptic seizure. Four months seizure. Four months later on April 21, later on April 21, 1910, Sam Clemens 1910, Sam Clemens died at the age of 74.died at the age of 74.

Monument to Mark Twain and His Grave

Edoardo Gelli's portrait of Mark Twain, 1904. From the Collections of Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village (id. # 00.3.8706).