How many lives can you fit into one?
Mark Twain, riverboat pilot? 10 facts about America’s wittiest writer
Image: Kenny Eliason
A man of many trades, Mark Twain is best known for his classics, including The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn , The Adventures of Tom Sawyer , and The Mysterious Stranger , among others. However, literary masterpieces aside, Twain also did and said quite a few other interesting things. Did you know he was a gold digger in California? Or that he based the character of Huckleberry Finn on a real friend? Aside from his beloved books and his great mane of white hair, this remarkable American has many more fascinating stories to tell—10 of which are highlighted below.
1
The Real Huckleberry Finn
Image: Demure Storyteller
As mentioned earlier, Huckleberry Finn was, at least in part, based on a real person. Much of Mark Twain’s inspiration comes from his own life and experiences. Though Huckleberry Finn is a fictional character, his appearance, demeanor, and lifestyle closely mirror almost exactly Mr. Twain’s dear childhood friend, Tom Blankenship.
Huckleberry Finn first appeared in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer before becoming the central figure in his own story, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn , a work widely regarded as a cornerstone of American literature.
2
Education
Image: Johnny Cohen
Mark Twain’s intellectual achievements might suggest he was a highly academically educated individual, but that was not the case. He had to leave school at a very early age to help support his family after his father’s death.
After he dropped out of school, Twain began working at the Hannibal Journal , where his writing career would find its start. Always the avid reader, he was known to spend hours each evening in the library, immersing himself in books.
3
Steamboat pilot
Image: Andreas Haubold
In 1857, Mark Twain began his career as an apprentice steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River . Soon after, he recruited his younger brother to work on the vessel as well, but tragedy struck one day as he died from an explosion on the steamboat. Despite this heartbreaking event, Twain continued his training and earned his pilot’s license in 1859, working as a pilot until the outbreak of the Civil War.
In June 1902, he paid his final visit to the Mississippi River when he accepted an honorary degree at the University of Missouri in Columbia and participated in the dedication of a steamboat named in his honor.
4
Pen Names
Image: Patrick Fore
It is a well-known fact that Mark Twain, though a great name indeed, was not our hero’s real birthname which was Samuel Langhorne Clemens . Choosing a memorable pen name can be a lengthy process, and many authors experiment with a few before settling on one.
Before adopting the now-famous "Mark Twain," Clemens tested out some unusual pseudonyms, including "Epaminondas Adrastus Blab" and "Thomas Jefferson Snodgrass."
5
Miner years
Image: Art Institute of Chicago
A man unafraid of trying new things, Mark Twain also worked as a miner in Nevada , where he and his brother fled, avoiding the Civil War. He later described the work as "hard and long and dismal."
His stint as a miner was short-lived, as he quickly landed his first writing job at The Territorial Enterprise newspaper in Virginia City. There he was tasked with covering crime, politics, culture, and, also, mining.
6
19 cats
Image: Paul Hanaoka
A hardcore cat enthusiast, Mr. Twain was so fond of these felines that he even "rented" them to keep him company while traveling . At one point in his life, he reportedly had 19 cats at the same time.
When asked about this obsession, Twain replied that he found cats much preferable to humans, even going as far as saying, "If man could be crossed with the cat, it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat."
7
Board game inventor
Image: Jaciel Melnik
Perhaps learning about English monarchs was a fun activity in the times of Mark Twain but, in any case, it served as the inspiration for a board game he invented and patented , called Memory Builder.
Memory Builder wasn’t Twain’s only invention. He also designed a self-adhesive scrapbook that works like an envelope and created an improvement in adjustable and detachable straps for women’s bras.
8
Bed writer
Image: Annie Spratt
Some might think that working in bed all day would be extremely uncomfortable, especially due to posture. However, Mark Twain found it absolutely delightful, and it became his favorite place to work.
In his old age, Mark Twain was often photographed in his bed, smoking away a cigar or pipe while writing. Though he owned many houses throughout his life, he had only one favorite bed, which he kept with him until the end.
9
Bad businessman
Image: Vasilis Caravitis
Being a great author doesn’t guarantee being successful in other things as well. Despite dabbling in many business investments, Twain’s financial endeavors were largely unsuccessful. He lost money in mining and technology ventures and even went bankrupt.
However, he always managed to make a comeback with his writing and his lectures, proving that his known talents were generous and reliable.
10
Predicted his own death
Image: Frank Zinsli
In 1909, Mark Twain predicted that he would die when Halley’s Comet returned . This was because the last time the comet passed near Earth was the year of his birth. Unfortunately, he was right, and he passed away in 1910.
Twain's family was by his side when he died, and he was buried in Elmira, New York. The exact cause of his death remains a mystery to this day.
