Mark Twain's Milestones
Birth
Mark Twain was born Samuel Langhorne Clemens in Florida, Missouri, to John Marshall Clemens and Jane Lampton Clemens.
Family moved to Hannibal
Moved with his family to Hannibal, Missouri, a port town on the Mississippi River.
Worked as a printer
Worked as a printer's apprentice and typesetter, contributing to local newspapers.
Father's death
His father died when Samuel was 11 years old.
Left home to travel
Left Hannibal to work as a printer in New York, Philadelphia, St. Louis, and Cincinnati.
Riverboat pilot
Worked as a licensed riverboat pilot on the Mississippi River until river traffic was halted by the Civil War.
Served briefly in Confederate militia
Served briefly in a Confederate militia before heading west.
Silver mining in Nevada
Tried silver mining in Nevada Territory.
Became journalist in Nevada
Became a reporter for the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise; adopted the pen name 'Mark Twain.'
Lecturing career
Began a successful career as a public lecturer.
Published 'The Innocents Abroad'
Published his first major travel book, 'The Innocents Abroad.'
Marriage to Olivia Langdon
Married Olivia Langdon; they had four children.
Published 'Roughing It'
Published the semi-autobiographical work 'Roughing It.'
Published 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'
Published 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.'
Published 'A Tramp Abroad'
Published the travel book 'A Tramp Abroad.'
Published 'The Prince and the Pauper'
Published the novel 'The Prince and the Pauper.'
Published 'Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'
Published 'Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.'
Financial troubles and bankruptcy
Declared bankruptcy due to failed investments but repaid his debts through lecture tours.
World lecture tour
Embarked on a world lecture tour to pay off debts.
Death of wife Olivia
His wife Olivia Langdon Clemens died.
Death
Mark Twain died in Redding, Connecticut.