Original Name of Mark Twain

Mark Twain is a name that is synonymous with American literature. His works, including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, are considered classics and are still widely read today. However, few people know that Mark Twain was not the author's original name. In fact, the man behind the pen name was born Samuel Langhorne Clemens. This article will explore the life of Samuel Clemens and how he came to adopt the name Mark Twain.

Samuel Langhorne Clemens was born on November 30, 1835, in Florida, Missouri. He was the sixth of seven children born to John Marshall Clemens and Jane Lampton Clemens. When Samuel was four years old, his family moved to Hannibal, Missouri, a town that would later serve as the inspiration for many of his stories.

After a brief stint as a printer's apprentice, Clemens began working as a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River. It was during this time that he adopted the pen name Mark Twain. The name comes from a term used by riverboat pilots to indicate that the water was two fathoms deep, which was considered safe for navigation. Clemens began using the name in his writing and eventually adopted it as his pen name.

Clemens' literary career began in earnest in 1865 with the publication of his short story, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County. The story was a hit and helped establish Clemens as a writer. He went on to write several more successful works, including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. These books are now considered classics of American literature and are still widely read today.

Despite his literary success, Clemens faced several personal and financial setbacks later in life. He lost a great deal of money in a failed business venture and was forced to declare bankruptcy. Additionally, several of his family members, including his wife and two of his children, passed away. Despite these challenges, Clemens continued to write and remained a beloved figure in American literature until his death in 1910.

Today, Mark Twain is remembered as one of the greatest American writers of all time. His works continue to be read and studied in schools and universities around the world. Additionally, his life and legacy have been the subject of numerous biographies and documentaries. While he may have been born Samuel Clemens, it is his pen name, Mark Twain, that will forever be associated with his literary achievements.