- He was born in a year when Halley's Comet appeared (1835), and died the year the comet returned (1910).
- When he proposed to Olivia Langdon, her father wanted to be sure of his good character. Since they had no friends in common, Twain offered the names of several friends he had made out west. Langdon wrote to ask them what they thought of the match. All wrote back condemning Twain as a louse and a freeloader; two predicted that he would fill a drunkard's grave. Twain bitterly remarked that apparently he didn't have any friends. "Then I'll be your friend myself," Langdon said. "Take the girl. I know you better than they do." Langdon was right, for Twain proved to be a faithful and loving husband to Olivia.
- Was the first person to write a novel entirely on a typewriter ("Huckleberry Finn").
- Once lived in a cabin on a spot of land called Jackass Hill.
- He actually had red hair, which of course does not show up in black and white photographs.
- Was good friends with Serbian-American scientist Nikola Tesla.
- A friend once told him that he was going to go the Holy Land, climb Mount Sinai, and recite the Ten Commandments. Twain said, "I've got a better idea. Stay at home, and obey them.".
- Although he was not monarchist or aristocratic, he was descended from nobility and, inclusively, from a bastard son of King Alexander II of Scotland.
- Upon hearing of his death, President William Howard Taft said, "Mark Twain gave pleasure--real intellectual enjoyment--to millions, and his works will continue to give such pleasure to millions yet to come . . . His humor was American, but he was nearly as much appreciated by Englishmen and people of other countries as by his own countrymen. He has made an enduring part of American literature".
- Only one of his four children, Clara Clemens (1874-1962), survived him. His other children: Jean (1880-1909), Susy (1872-96) and Langdon (1870-72).
- A complete bibliography of his works is virtually impossible because he was published far and wide, often in obscure newspapers. New examples of his writing have been discovered as recently as 1995.
- Suffered from bipolar disorder.
- One of his favorite books was "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas (VII).
- Failed to graduate from elementary school.
- He was the first person to refer to Anne Sullivan, Helen Keller's teacher, as "Miracle Worker".
- Pictured on the 10¢ US postage stamp (as Samuel L. Clemens) in the Famous American/Authors series, issued 13 February 1940.
- His character of Tom Sawyer was honored by an 8¢ US commemorative postage stamp in the American Folklore series, issued 13 October 1972.
- Worked for the "Territorial Enterprise" newspaper from 1861-64.
- Loved to speculate with his money, but almost always unfortunately. This led to his filing for bankruptcy in 1894.
- His short novel, "Adam's Diary", was published at the beginning of his career. Its companion novel, "Diary of Eve", was written near the end of his life. The differences between the two are striking, especially in the maturation of his style.
- Inducted into the International Mustache Hall of Fame in 2015 (inaugural class) in the category Historical Figure.
- He was interred in his wife's family plot at Woodland Cemetery in Elmira, NY.
- An asteroid discovered on September 24, 1976, has been named 2632 Mark Twain in his honor.
- Thought Joan of Arc was the greatest human being who has ever lived, second only to Christ, and considered his historical novel "Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc, by Sieur Louis de Conte" (1896) to be his best work.
- Great-uncle of writer Jean Webster.
- Great-great-great-uncle of Casper Van Dien and Sudi Van Dien, and great-great-great-great-uncle of Cappy Van Dien, Grace Van Dien, Maya Van Dien and Celeste Van Dien.
- Pictured on a nondenominated ('forever') USA commemorative postage stamp in the Literary Arts series, issued 25 June 2011. Price on day of issue was 44¢.
- Inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians in 1982 and the Nevada Writers Hall of Fame in 1998.
- Referenced in Phoenix (1998).
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