Who is Mark Twain and What Did He Accomplish?
The world remembers Mark Twain as one of the greatest American writers of all time. His two most notable works are the Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885). Mark Twain was widely known as a lecturer, humorist, writer, and publisher. Learn about his background, and what he accomplished in his time.
Mark Twain’s Origins- Upbringing and Life Before Fame
Mark Twain is a pen name. He was named Samuel Langhorne Clemens after being born two months prematurely on November 30, 1835. His father, John Marshall Clemens, married his mother, Jane Lampton, in 1823. They were blessed with seven children and Twain was the sixth born.
Twain’s childhood was somewhat rough. In addition to his battle with poor health for a decade, only three of his siblings survived childhood. One brother died in 1828 at three weeks of age. Twain lost his 9-year-old sister in 1839 when he was only three, and three years later he lost another brother. Five years later, Twain’s father succumbed to pneumonia.
One year after his father’s death, Twain left school due to financial problems. His family suffered great financial losses, leading them into debt. After his father’s death, Twain had no choice but to drop out of school and become a printer’s apprentice at only 12.
His efforts paid off because three years later 15-year-old Twain became a writer and humorist at Hannibal Journal. Twain was naturally humorous and it’s believed that he inherited the trait from his mother. His father is reported to have been his mother’s opposite, a humorless man who rarely expressed affection.
Twain moved ranks three years later and left to explore opportunities that finally led him to the International Typographical Union. At this time, Twain visited public libraries in the evening to educate himself. Not going beyond the elementary level was not a deterrent for his learning. In fact, Mark Twain said that he never let his schooling interfere with his education.
Mark Twain’s Career: Path from Journalist to Novelist
During his career as a journalist, Twain read widely and took time to understand the cities he lived in and explored. He kept writing and contributing to papers, including his brother’s newspaper. He had also begun to explore creative writing during this time. Twain was resilient, looking beyond his family’s struggles and personal challenges. Twain’s life experiences greatly influenced his worldview and contributed to his shift from journalist to novelist.
At 15-years-old, Twain published his first short story, A Gallant Fireman. This journey of small steps led to a mountain of 28 books, several short stories, and letters. He had his first strike of fortune at 30 years of age when he published his short story, Jim Smiley and the Jumping Frog. This set the center stage for his upcoming literary works. His 1969 book, The Innocents Abroad was well-received.
Mark Twain’s Legacy and Global Impact
Despite being deemed “the Father of American Literature” and his contributions to the literary world, Mark Twain received very few accolades in life. Yale University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Letters Degree in 1901, and Oxford University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Letters Degree in 1907.
He wrote 28 novels including Roughing It (1872), The Gilded Age (1873), The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876), Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885), and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court (1889).
Mark Twain was also successful in his private life. It was love at first sight when Samuel Langhorne Clemens saw Olivia Langdon’s photo in 1867. 32-year-old Clemens first ‘met’ 22-year-old Langdon while traveling by boat. While aboard the steamship Quaker City, Clemens made a friend who happened to be Langdon’s brother. While chitchatting, the man shared a photograph of his sister, and Clemens fell head over heels.
The man was kind enough to invite Clemens to their Elmira home. Clemens wasted no time, and he proposed marriage to Langdon after just a few days. Well, she rejected him but accepted a proposal to be penpals. They say the second time is a charm, and it worked.
One hundred and eighty letters later, Samuel Langhorne Clemens and Olivia Langdon married in February 1870 in Elmira. They were from opposite upbringings; he came from a poor and rugged background, while she came from a wealthy and polished background.
Unfortunately, like his parents, Twain lost a few children. Only one child, Clara, lived a full life. His other three children died at nine months, 24-years-old, and 29-years-old. Mark Twain and Olivia, fondly referred to as “Livy,” lived happily together until Livy succumbed to heart failure in 1904. Mark Twain couldn’t live without Livy and joined his love 6 years later in 1910.
Clara was blessed with a daughter, Nina Gabrilowitsch, in 1910. She was born after Twain’s demise, so he never met his grandchild. Unfortunately, Nina passed on in 1966. She left no child and is, therefore, officially the last direct descendant of Samuel Langhorne Clemens (Mark Twain).
Lack Of Schooling Isn’t the End of Education
Mark Twain’s life can be summed up by his famous quote, “I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.” He didn’t allow his lack of formal education to kill his dreams. He read widely and improved his observation skills. Coupled with his natural sense of humor, he morphed from a sickly boy into a world-renowned author and humorist. His personal life, especially his commitment to his wife, was admirable — is just one reason of many reasons why he’s respected to this day. Happy birthday, Mark Twain.
