Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 - April 21, 1910),
better known by the pen name Mark Twain, was an American humorist, satirist, lecturer and writer. Twain is most noted for his novels Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which has since been called the Great American Novel, and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. He is also known for his quotations. During his lifetime, Twain became a friend to presidents, artists, industrialists and European royalty.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens, "Mark Twain", was born in Florida, Missouri on November 30, 1835 to a Tennessee country merchant,
John Marshall Clemens (August 11, 1798 - March 24, 1847), and Jane Lampton Clemens (June 18, 1803 - October 27, 1890). He was the sixth of seven children. Only three of his siblings survived childhood: his brothers Orion (July 17, 1825 - December 11, 1897) and Henry (July 13, 1838 - June 21, 1858) and his sister Pamela (September 19, 1827 - August 31, 1904). His sister Margaret (May 31, 1830 - August 17, 1839) died when Twain was four years old, and his brother Benjamin (June 8, 1832 - May 12, 1842) died three years later. Another brother, Pleasant (1828-1829), died at the age of six months. He was born two weeks after the closest approach to Earth of Halley's Comet.
Early life, Travels and family, Later life and death.
Career overview, Early journalism and travelogues, Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, Later writing.
Changing his views, Anti-imperialism, Pacifist or revolutionary?