USA / America: Samuel Langhorne Clemens, aka Mark Twain, American writer, traveller and humorist (1835-1910)

Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 - April 21, 1910), better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist. He is most noted for his novels, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876), and its sequel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885), the latter often called 'the Great American Novel'. <br/><br/> Twain grew up in Hannibal, Missouri, which would later provide the setting for Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer. After toiling as a printer in various cities, he became a master After toiling as a printer in various cities, he became a master riverboat pilot on the Mississippi River, before heading west to join Orion. He was a failure at gold mining, so he next turned to journalism. While a reporter, he wrote a humorous story, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, which became very popular and brought nationwide attention. Twain had found his calling.<br/><br/><br/><br/>He was a failure at gold mining, so he next turned journalist. His wit and satire earned praise from critics and peers, and he was a friend to presidents, His wit and satire earned praise from critics and peers, and he was a friend to presidents, artists, industrialists, and European royalty.<br/><br/><br/>He had found his calling. He lacked financial acumen, and, though he made a great deal of money from his writings and lectures, he squandered it on various ventures, in particular With the help of Henry Huttleston Rogers he eventually overcame his financial troubles. With the help of Henry Huttleston Rogers he eventually overcame his financial troubles. Twain was born during a visit by Halley's Comet, and predicted that he would 'go out with it' as well. He was lauded as the greatest American humorist of his age', and William Faulkner called Twain 'the father of American literature'.