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Mark Twain Born
Samuel Langhorne Clemens was born in Florida, Missouri to John Marshall and Jane Lampton Clemens. -
The Move to Missouri
The Clemens family moves to Hannibal, Missouri,to a town by the Mississippi River. -
Death of Father
Samuel's father John Clemens dies, leaving family in financial hardships. -
First Job
At the age of 15, Mark Twain leaves school and goes to work as a printer in Hannibal. -
River Pilot
Samuel Clemens is educated to become a licensed river pilot. There he learns of the phrase "mark twain," which efers to the river depth at which a boat is safe to navigate. He soon adopts it as his pen name. -
Brother's Death
Twain's youngest brother Henry is killed in an explosion on the steamboat Pennsylvania. Twain encouraged Henry to become a steamboat pilot and he blames himself for his brother's death. -
Civil War
The Civil War starts, which ends Twain's steamboat career. -
Twain Moves West
Twain travels to Nevada with his brother Orion. He tries mining and other things with no success, before becoming a reporter for the Virginia City Daily Territorial Enterprise -
California and the "Jumping Frog"
A year after moving to California, his first story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" is published. -
Twain's Lectures
Twain traverls to Hawaii as a reporter for a San Francisco newspaper. He comes back and gives his first public lecture -
First Book Published
The Innocents Abroad is Twain's first published book, which instantly becomes a bestseller. -
Twain Marries
Mark Twain marries Olivia Langdon and they have their first son, Langdon. -
Move to Connecticut
Twain moves his family to Hartford, Connecticut. He publishes Roughing It. Twains daughter Susy is born, but their son Langdon dies of diphtheria. -
Another Book
Twain publishes The Gilded Age. -
Another Daughter
Clara Clemens is born. She is the only child to outlive Mark Twain. -
Tom Sawyer
Twain publishes The Adventures of Tom Sawyer -
Last Child
Jean Clemens, the last child, is born. -
Life on the Mississippi
In memory of his steamboat years, Twain publishes Life on the MIssissippi. -
Twain Opens Company
Mark Twain opens a Publishing Company named Charles L. Webster & Co., which fails and ruins his financial situation. -
Huckleberry Finn
Twain publishes The Adventures of Huckberry Finn. -
Connecticut Yankee
Twain publishes A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. It is not a success. -
Europe
In financial ruins, Twain and his family moves to Europe to find cheaper living. -
Last Novel
Twain Publishes is last novel Pudd'nhead Wilson. -
Tour
Twain goes on a worldwide lecture tour to pay off his debt. -
Period: to
Family Devastation
Twain's wife and two daughters die during those years. Twain writes his biography. -
Twain's Death
Mark Twain dies at the age of 74 in Redding, Connecticut.
