Mark Twain Timeline

Born

Nov 30, 1835

Samuel L. Clemens, also known as Mark Twain, was born prematurely in Florida, Missouri. He was the son to John Marshall and Jane Clemens.

Boyhood Home

May 7, 1839

Sam Clemens and his family moved to Hannibal in 1839, when Sam was four years old. His years in Hannibal included swimming in the Mississippi River, which is only a short distance from his house. He also explored the cave he immortalized.

Poverty

Nov 26, 1846

Poverty forced his family to move out of the Boyhood Home. During this time they moved in with the Grant family above Grant’s Drug Store.

John Marshall Dies

Mar 24, 1847

working as a typesetter for the local paper to help support his family after his father died. Family moves back to Boyhood Home. When Sam was only eleven years old.

Leaving Hannibal

Jul 15, 1853

Sam left Hannibal in June to become a journeyman printer in St. Louis, New York and Philadelphia. Brother Orion took their mother, Jane Clemens, and Henry Clemens to Iowa, ending Clemens family residence in Hannibal.

Getting Married

Feb 2, 1870

Samuel and Olivia became engaged in Elmira, New York on February 4. Later they married Olivia on February 2, 1870. They had 4 children together, one son (died at 19 months), and three daughters.

Moving In

Sep 19, 1874

Samuel & his wife, Olivia, moved into there new house after they finished constructing it. While living there, Clemens wrote many of his best selling books.

Traveling

Oct 4, 1891

Financial problems forced Samuel and Olivia to move out of the house they built. He relocated in Europe in in 1891 and traveled for a year to earn money as Samuel did lectures. They never did return to the house due to their daughters, Suzy, death.