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Twain was born
Born prematurely at Florida, Missouri, November 30 to Judge John Marshall and Jane Lampton Clemens under Halley's comet -
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Clemens family moves to Hannible
Family moved to Hannibal, Missouri, where Judge J.M. Clemens, Samuel's father, began to operate general store. -
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Family moved into house known as Mark Twain Boyhood Home.
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Moved in with the Grants
Poverty forced family to move out of boyhood home; moved in with Dr. Grant's family above Grant's Drug Store in exchange for Jane's services as a cook. -
Mark Twains Father Dies
Judge Clemens died. Family moves back to Boyhood Home. -
Twain Apprenticed
Sam Clemens apprenticed to Joseph Ament of Missouri Courier newspaper. -
Orion Returns
Elder brother Orion returned to Hannibal in September, purchased Western Union newspaper, Sam began working for his brother. Joined Cadets of Temperance. -
The Dandy Frightening the Squatter
Sam edited Orion's newspaper while Orion was on trip. Sam submitted two sketches to Saturday Evening Post, no pay. His sketch, "The Dandy Frightening the Squatter," was published in the May 1 issue of Carpet-Bag of Boston, Massachusetts. -
Sam leaves Hannibal
Sam left Hannibal in June to become a journeyman printer in St. Louis, New York and Philadelphia. Brother Orion took their mother, Jane Clemens, and Henry Clemens to Iowa, ending Clemens family residence in Hannibal. -
Visit to DC
Sam visited Washington, DC in February. Summer in Muscatine, Iowa, with brother Orion on Muscatine Journal. -
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Orions Daily Post
Winter and spring in St. Louis. Went to work for brother Orion in Orion's Daily Post, located in Keokuk, Iowa until fall of 1856. -
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Cincinnati
In Cincinnati, Ohio, as assistant in job printing shop -
Apprentice River Pilot
April became apprentice river pilot under Captain Horace Bixby of the Paul Jones. -
became fully licensed pilot
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River Days End
River days ended with start of Civil War. Brief stop in Hannibal and soldiering days recalled in his story "A Private History of a Campaign that Failed." Traveled by stage coach to Carson City, Nevada, with brother Orion who had been appointed Secretary to the Territorial Governor of Nevada, James Nye. -
Virginia City
After brief stint as a miner, Sam Clemens settled in as a reporter on the Virginia City, NevadaTerritorial Enterprise in August. -
First use of the Pen name Mark Twain
First used pen name Mark Twain on Enterprise -
Left for Cali
Left for California in May, began working for San Francisco Call newspaper. -
Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County
Visited Jackass Hill in California where he heard the Jumping Frog story; tried gold mining. "Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog" published in 18 November issue of New York Saturday Press. -
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Sacramento Union
Worked for Sacramento Union, sent by the paper as a correspondent to the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii). Upon return to California gave his first lecture on trip experiences. -
1867
Went to New York via Nicaragua. Made Midwest lecture tour that included stops in St. Louis, Hannibal, Quincy and Keokuk. The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County published. Excursion trip on board steamer Quaker City to Europe and the Holy Lands (recalled in his first book, The Innocents Abroad). Brief period as secretary to Senator Stewart of Nevada in Washington, DC. -
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The Innocents Abroad
Contracted for first book, The Innocents Abroad, which came out in 1869. Traveled to California to obtain the release of some of his letters published in newspapers there. Midwest lecture tour in November and December. -
ENGAGED!!
Engaged to Olivia Louise Langdon of Elmira, New York on February 4. In August bought part interest in Buffalo Express newspaper and started work as an editor. First book, The Innocents Abroad, published. Lecture tour November to January, 1870. -
Married
Married Olivia Langdon in Elmira on February 2, 1870. -
Son born
Son, Langdon, born November 7; died in infancy (1872). -
Trip to London and a move to Hartford
Trip to London, England. Moved to Hartford, Connecticut in October. Received U.S. patent for adjustable garment strap. -
Susy
Daughter, Susy, born March 19. Built large house preserved today as Mark Twain House in Hartford; son Langdon dies; Roughing It published. -
Clara
Daughter Clara born June 8. -
Jean
Daughter Jean born July 26. -
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Hard Times
Clemens facing personal bankruptcy. Made round-the-world lecture tour to pay off debts. Daughter Susy died of meningitis August 18, 1896. -
Susy Dies
Daughter Susy died of meningitis August 18, 1896. -
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Hannibal
Last visit to Hannibal, May 29 to June 1. Handed out graduation diplomas to Hannibal High School graduating class. On to Columbia, Missouri, to receive honorary Doctorate Degree from University of Missouri. Helped dedicate Eugene Field's House as a museum property in St. Louis prior to visiting Hannibal. -
Olivia Dies
Olivia dies; returned to New York, living in brownstone at 21 Fifth Avenue. -
Stormfield
Moved into his last house, Stormfield, at Redding, Connecticut on 18 June. Visitors included Helen Keller and Laura Hawkins Frazer (model for Becky Thatcher). -
Clara Marries
Daughter Clara married Ossip Gabrilowitsch, a Russian concert pianist and conductor, at Stormfield -
One cruddy Christmas
Daughter Jean died December 24. -
Halley's Comet says goodbye
Last trip; went to Bermuda for health. Heart complications set in; returned home to Stormfield, died April 21. Buried in wife's family's plot, Woodlawn Cemetery, Elmira, New York. Halley's Comet was in skies again.
