Mark Twain

Date of Birth: November 30, 1835

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Date of Death: April 21, 1910

Biography

Mark Twain, born Samuel Langhorne Clemens, was an iconic American writer, humorist, entrepreneur, publisher, and lecturer. He is best known for his novels “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” (1876) and its sequel, “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” (1884), the latter often called “The Great American Novel.” Twain grew up in Hannibal, Missouri, which would later serve as the inspiration for the fictional town of St. Petersburg in his novels. Before becoming a writer, Twain worked as a typesetter and a riverboat pilot on the Mississippi River, experiences that deeply influenced his later works. During his lifetime, he was hailed as the “greatest humorist the United States has produced,” and William Faulkner called him “the father of American literature.” Twain’s wit and satire earned him international acclaim, and his works have been translated into numerous languages.

5 Interesting Facts about Mark Twain

1. Mark Twain’s real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens.

2. He was born shortly after Halley’s Comet appeared and famously predicted he would die when it returned; he passed away the day after the comet’s closest approach in 1910.

3. Twain held a pilot’s license and worked as a riverboat pilot on the Mississippi River.

4. He was deeply in debt later in life but managed to pay off his debts through a worldwide lecture tour.

5. Twain was an early adopter of technology; he was one of the first authors to submit a typewritten manuscript.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Mark Twain

1. “The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.”

2. “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”

3. “Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t.”

4. “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”

5. “The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At his peak, Mark Twain’s net worth was estimated to be around $30 million in today’s dollars, though he faced financial struggles later in life.

Children

Mark Twain had four children with his wife, Olivia Langdon Clemens: 1. Langdon Clemens (1870–1872), who died in infancy. 2. Susy Clemens (1872–1896), who died of spinal meningitis. 3. Clara Clemens (1874–1962), who was a singer and married twice, and had one daughter. 4. Jean Clemens (1880–1909), who had epilepsy and died of a heart attack.