Mark Twain (1835-1910) was born in Florida. The year following his father's death, at the age of 11, Twain started to work. Aged 22 he began a career as a steamboat pilot, during w...view moreMark Twain (1835-1910) was born in Florida. The year following his father's death, at the age of 11, Twain started to work. Aged 22 he began a career as a steamboat pilot, during which time he travelled across the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains. These travels provided the material for The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, his first important work, first published in 1865.view less