Samuel L. Clemens, who is better known as “Mark Twain,” was born in
Monroe county, Missouri, November 30, 1835, and received his education
at the village schools. On his father’s death, which took place when
he was twelve years of age, he went to work in order to contribute
to the support of his mother and little brothers and sisters. As an
apprentice in the office of the Hannibal (Missouri) Courier, he laid
the foundations of his reputation as author and journalist. Within the
following twenty-five years he was steamboat pilot, soldier, miner and
editor. His first contributions under his famous nom-de-plume appeared
in 1862, in the newspaper, The Virginia City Enterprise. Since 1872
he has devoted himself to literary work, lecturing occasionally, and
making frequent trips to Europe. It is said that nearly a million
copies of his works have been sold. Space will not permit of a full
list of them, but Roughing It, The Prince and the Pauper, A Connecticut
Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, and Pudden-Head Wilson are classics
whose popularity bids fair to last as long as American literature
itself.