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Samuel Langhorne Clemens is born in Florida, Missouri, the sixth child of John Marshall and Jane Lampton Clemens.
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Samuel Langhorne Clemens is born in Florida, Missouri, the sixth child of John Marshall and Jane Lampton Clemens.
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Born in Florida, Missouri. Halley’s comet visible from earth.
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The Clemens family moves to Hannibal, Missouri, a riverbank town that is a frequent stop for steamboats traveling the Mississippi. Young Samuel reveres the riverboat pilots and hopes to become one himself.
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Moves to Hannibal, Missouri, which later serves as the model town for Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.
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Samuel's father John Clemens dies, forcing the family into financial hardship.
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Father dies, leaving family in difficult circumstances.
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Begins work as a journeyman printer with the Hannibal Gazette. Publishes first sketches.
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Becomes a cub-pilot for Horace Bixby. Spends next two years “learning” the river, later described in Life on the Mississippi.
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Brother Henry killed in steamboat accident on the Pennsylvania.
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Civil War breaks out, halting river trade. Clemens serves two weeks with Confederate irregulars, then moves to Nevada with his brother Orion.
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Writes “Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog.” Wins notice in eastern magazines.
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Engaged to Livy. The Innocents Abroad published as a subscription book. It's an instant best seller.
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Moves with Livy to Hartford. Publishes Roughing It. Daughter is born. Son Langdon dies.
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Daughter Clara is born. Moves into fanciful Nook Farm house in Hartford.
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Daughter Clara is born. Moves into fanciful Nook Farm house in Hartford.
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Publishes The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in London, American edition comes out the next year. Founds own publishing company, Charles L. Webster & Co.
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Continues to lecture around the world. Daughter Susie dies.
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Livy dies. Begins dictating autobiography. Moves to New York City.
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Visits Bermuda for the last time. Dies at Stormfield, buried in Elmira. Halley’s comet visible from earth.
