Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens was born on the 30th of November 1835, in Florida, Missouri. He grew up as the sixth of seven children to Jane Lampton and John Marshall Clemens. His father died of pneumonia in 1847 when Samuel was only eleven years old. The family moved to Hannibal, a port town on the Mississippi River, shortly after his birth. This small community would later become the fictional St. Petersburg for two of his most famous novels. Slavery was legal in Missouri at that time, and it became a recurring theme in his writings about the region. After leaving school following the fifth grade, he worked as a printer's apprentice. By 1851, he began contributing articles and humorous sketches to the Hannibal Journal owned by his older brother Orion. At eighteen, he left Hannibal to work as a printer in New York City, Philadelphia, St. Louis, and Cincinnati. He joined the International Typographical Union while educating himself in public libraries during evening hours.
Twain developed a deep ambition to become a steamboatman during his youth. Pilot Horace E. Bixby took him on as a cub pilot to teach navigation between New Orleans and St. Louis for five hundred dollars payable from future wages. It took more than two years before he received his official pilot license. The role required learning landmarks, currents, shifting channels, submerged snags, and rocks capable of destroying even the strongest vessel. Piloting gave Twain his pen name from mark twain, the leadsman cry for measured river depth of two fathoms or twelve feet. As a young pilot, Clemens served aboard the steamer A.B. Chambers with Grant Marsh who later became famous for exploits on the Missouri River. They maintained correspondence for many years after Clemens left the river. While training, Samuel convinced his younger brother Henry to work alongside him as mud clerk on the steamboat Pennsylvania. On the 13th of June 1858, the steamboat's boiler exploded causing Henry to succumb to wounds eight days later. Twain claimed to have foreseen this death in a dream a month earlier which inspired his interest in parapsychology. He remained guilt-stricken and held himself responsible for the rest of his life.
Twain traveled west to join Orion who was Secretary of the Nevada Territory in 1861. The brothers journeyed over two weeks by stagecoach across Great Plains and Rocky Mountains visiting Mormon community in Salt Lake City. Twain failed as a miner on Comstock Lode before working at Virginia City newspaper Territorial Enterprise under writer Dan DeQuille. He first used his pen name Mark Twain on the 3rd of February 1863 when writing humorous travel account titled Letter From Carson re: Joe Goodman party at Gov Johnsons music. His first major success came when humorous tall tale The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County published the 18th of November 1865 in New York weekly Saturday Press brought national attention. A year later he traveled to Sandwich Islands present day Hawaii as reporter for Sacramento Union. Letters proved popular becoming basis for first lectures. In 1867 local newspapers Alta California and New-York Tribune funded trip to Mediterranean aboard Quaker City including tour Europe and Middle East. Collection compiled as The Innocents Abroad published 1869. On this trip he met Charles Langdon showing picture of sister Olivia whom he claimed to fall in love with at first sight.
Twain married Olivia Langdon in Elmira New York in February 1870. She came from wealthy but liberal family introducing him to abolitionists socialists principled atheists activists for women rights and social equality including Harriet Beecher Stowe Frederick Douglass William Dean Howells. Clemenses lived Buffalo New York from 1869 to 1871 where Twain owned stake in Buffalo Express newspaper working editor writer. Their son Langdon died diphtheria 1872 age nineteen months. They had three daughters Susy born 1872 died 1896 Clara born 1874 died 1962 Jean born 1880 died 1909. Starting 1873 family moved Hartford Connecticut arranging home next door to Stowe. Family summered Quarry Farm Elmira home Olivia sister Susan Crane. Susan built octagonal gazebo study 1874 surprise allowing quiet writing cigar enjoyment. Twain wrote many classic novels during seventeen years Hartford 1874-1891 over twenty summers Quarry Farm including Adventures of Tom Sawyer published 1876 Prince Pauper 1881 Life Mississippi 1883 Adventures Huckleberry Finn 1884 Connecticut Yankee King Arthur Court 1889. Marriage lasted thirty-four years until Olivia death 1904. All Clemens buried Elmira Woodlawn Cemetery.
Twain invested heavily new inventions technology particularly Paige typesetting machine considered mechanical marvel amazing viewers when worked prone breakdowns. He spent three hundred thousand dollars between 1880 and 1894 before Linotype rendered it obsolete losing bulk book profits substantial portion wife inheritance. Publishing house Charles L Webster Company co-owned nephew enjoyed initial success selling memoirs Ulysses S Grant failed soon afterward losing money biography Pope Leo XIII fewer than two hundred copies sold. Twain family closed expensive Hartford home moving Europe June 1891. William M Laffan New York Sun McClure Newspaper Syndicate offered publication series six European letters. Family stayed mainly France Germany Italy May 1895 longer spells Berlin winter 1891-92 Florence fall winter 1892-93 Paris winters springs 1893-94 1894-95. Twain returned New York four times enduring business troubles renting cheap room September 1893 one dollar fifty per day Players Club kept March 1894. Friend Henry Huttleston Rogers principal Standard Oil met 1893 helped manage finances copyrights Rogers had Twain file bankruptcy April 1894 transferring copyrights written works wife prevent creditors gaining possession. Twain accepted offer Robert Sparrow Smythe embarking year-long around world lecture tour July 1895 pay creditors full though no legal obligation do so. Journey long arduous sick much time mostly cold carbuncle. First part itinerary took northern America British Columbia Canada until second half August. Second part sailed Pacific Ocean scheduled lecture Honolulu Hawaii canceled cholera epidemic. Twain went Fiji Australia New Zealand Sri Lanka India Mauritius South Africa three months India became centerpiece 712-page book Following Equator. Second half July 1896 sailed England completing circumnavigation begun fourteen months before.
Twain fascinated science scientific inquiry developing close lasting friendship Nikola Tesla spending much time together Tesla laboratory. He patented three inventions including Improvement Adjustable Detachable Straps Garments replace suspenders history trivia game. Most commercially successful self-pasting scrapbook dried adhesive pages needed moistened use sold more than twenty-five thousand copies. Twain made fun map making process Map Paris from 1870. Early proponent fingerprinting forensic technique featuring tall tale Life Mississippi 1883 central plot element novel Puddnhead Wilson 1894. Novel Connecticut Yankee King Arthur Court 1889 features time traveler contemporary United States using knowledge science introduce modern technology Arthurian England type historical manipulation became trope speculative fiction alternate histories. 1909 Thomas Edison visited Stormfield Redding Connecticut filming him. Part footage used Prince Pauper 1909 two-reel short film only known existing film footage Twain.
Before 1899 Twain largely favor imperialism late 1860s early 1870s spoke strongly American interests Hawaiian Islands. War Spain 1898 worthiest war ever fought according to Twain. Reversed course 1899 New York Herald the 16th of October 1900 describes transformation political awakening context Philippine-American War anti-imperialism. During Boxer Rebellion Twain said Boxer patriot loves country better countries other people wishes success. In essay To Person Sitting Darkness expressed strong anti-imperialist views ongoing conflicts Boxer Rebellion Second Boer War Philippine-American War. At one point sardonic suggestion flag Philippines under American control easily managed have special one usual flag white stripes painted black stars replaced skull cross-bones. From 1901 return Europe until death 1910 vice-president American Anti-Imperialist League opposing annexation Philippines United States tens thousands members wrote many political pamphlets organization Incident Philippines posthumously published 1924 response Moro Crater Massacre six hundred Moros killed. Twain wrote way battle no resemblance battle cleaned four days work butchering helpless people. Neglected previously uncollected writings anti-imperialism appeared first time book form 1992. Critical imperialism other countries Following Equator expresses hatred condemnation imperialism all stripes highly critical European imperialists Cecil Rhodes King Leopold II Belgium both attempting establish colonies African continent Scramble Africa. King Leopold Soliloquy political satire monarch private colony Congo Free State reports outrageous exploitation grotesque abuses led widespread international outcry early 1900s arguably first large-scale human rights movement.
Twain Presbyterian critical organized religion certain elements Christianity through later life wrote Faith believing know ain't so If Christ here now thing he would not Christian. Anti-Catholic sentiment rampant nineteenth century America noted educated enmity toward everything Catholic. Adult engaged religious discussions attended services theology developing wrestling deaths loved ones own mortality. Generally avoided publishing most controversial opinions religion lifetime known essays stories published later essay Three Statements Eighties 1880s stated believed almighty God messages revelations holy scriptures Bible Providence retribution afterlife. Stated goodness justice mercy God manifested works universe governed strict immutable laws determining small matters who dies pestilence. Other times plainly professed belief Providence. Some later writings 1890s less optimistic goodness God observing if Maker powerful good evil not right mind. Conjectured sardonically perhaps God created world tortures purpose own otherwise indifferent humanity too petty insignificant deserve attention anyway. 1901 criticized actions missionary Dr William Scott Ament 1851-1909 Ament missionaries collected indemnities Chinese subjects aftermath Boxer uprising 1900 response hearing Ament methods published North American Review February 1901 To Person Sitting Darkness deals examples imperialism China South Africa U.S occupation Philippines. Subsequent article To My Missionary Critics published North American Review April 1901 unapologetically continues attack focus shifted Ament missionary superiors American Board Commissioners Foreign Missions. After death family suppressed work especially irreverent conventional religion including Letters Earth not published until daughter Clara reversed position 1962 response Soviet propaganda withholding anti-religious Mysterious Stranger published 1916 Little Bessie story ridiculing Christianity first published 1972 collection Mark Twains Fables Man. Raised money build Presbyterian Church Nevada 1864 created reverent portrayal Joan Arc subject obsessed forty years studied dozen years spent two years writing. 1900 again 1908 stated like Joan Arc best books best. Those knew well late life recount dwelt subject afterlife daughter Clara saying Sometimes believed death ended everything most time felt sure life beyond.
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Common questions
When and where was Samuel Langhorne Clemens born?
Samuel Langhorne Clemens was born on the 30th of November 1835, in Florida, Missouri. He grew up as the sixth of seven children to Jane Lampton and John Marshall Clemens.
How did Mark Twain get his pen name from his river work?
Mark Twain received his pen name from the leadsman cry mark twain which indicated a measured river depth of two fathoms or twelve feet. This phrase became his professional identity after he worked as a steamboat pilot between New Orleans and St. Louis for more than two years.
What major tragedy happened to Mark Twain's brother Henry in 1858?
The steamboat Pennsylvania boiler exploded on the 13th of June 1858 causing Henry Clemens to succumb to wounds eight days later. Twain claimed to have foreseen this death in a dream a month earlier which inspired his interest in parapsychology and left him guilt-stricken for the rest of his life.
Which novels did Mark Twain write during his seventeen years living in Hartford Connecticut?
Mark Twain wrote Adventures of Tom Sawyer published 1876 Prince Pauper 1881 Life Mississippi 1883 Adventures Huckleberry Finn 1884 and Connecticut Yankee King Arthur Court 1889 while living in Hartford from 1874 to 1891. He also spent many summers at Quarry Farm Elmira where his wife Olivia sister Susan Crane built an octagonal gazebo study in 1874.
Why did Mark Twain travel around the world starting in July 1895?
Mark Twain embarked on a year-long lecture tour beginning July 1895 to pay creditors after accepting an offer from Robert Sparrow Smythe despite having no legal obligation to do so. The journey included stops in Fiji Australia New Zealand Sri Lanka India Mauritius South Africa and England before he returned to New York four times enduring business troubles.