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Mark Twain's Life
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Mr. Twain's Father Dies
Samuel's father John Clemens dies, forcing the family into financial hardship. -
Mark Gets a Job at the Printery
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Mark Becomes an Apprentice River Pilot
Samuel Clemens begins a successful two-year apprenticeship to become a licensed river pilot. He learns the lingo of the trade, including "mark twain," a phrase that refers to the river depth at which a boat is safe to navigate. He soon adopts it as his pen name. -
Civil War Breaks Out
Because of the war, trade along the Mississippi River is halted, forcing an end to Twain's steamboat career. Twain spends two weeks training in a volunteer Confederate militia before it disbands. -
Twain Travels West
In an adventure later chronicled in the book Roughing It, Twain travels to Nevada with his brother Orion, who had been named the secretary to the territorial governor. He tries his hand at mining and other schemes, without much success, before becoming a reporter for the Virginia City (Nev.) Daily Territorial Enterprise. -
Twain Moves to California
Twain travels to northern California, visiting Calavaras County before settling in San Francisco. -
"Jumping Frog" Published
The short story "Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog" (later "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calavaras County") appears in the New York Saturday Press. The story proves extremely popular and raises Twain's profile as a writer. -
Twain Meets His Future Wife
Twain is introduced to Olivia "Livy" Langdon, the sister of a friend. Love hits him like a ton of bricks. -
Twain Gets Married and has a Son
Twain marries Olivia Langdon, who becomes an important editor of his work. Their son Langdon is born later that year. -
Clara Clemens Born
Daughter Clara is born, the only one of Twain's children to outlive her father. -
Tom Sawyer is Published
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Jean Clemens Born
Livy Clemens gives birth to the couple's fourth and final child, a daughter named Jean. -
Twain Founds Publishing Company
Twain founds his own publishing company, Charles L. Webster & Co. (named after his nephew and co-owner Charles L. Webster). It turns out to be a bad financial move—the company's struggles will eventually ruin his family's finances. -
Twain in Europe
His finances in shambles following a series of poor business decisions, Twain moves his family from Hartford to Europe for cheaper living. -
Twain's Last Novel
Pudd'nhead Wilson, Twain's last novel, is published. After ten difficult years, Twain's publishing house, Charles L. Webster & Co., finally goes belly-up. The writer finds himself essentially bankrupt. Close friend Henry Huttleston Rogers takes over his finances, saving him from complete disaster. -
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Deaths in the Family
Two of Mark's 4 children die and one is diagnosed with epillepsy.