Samuel Clemens (later greater recognized by pen name Mark Twain) was born in Florida, Missouri in 1835 to the son of a Tennessee nation merchant.He was brought up in Hannibal, Missouri a town on the excellent Mississippi river. At the age of 11 his father died and the following year Twain had to acquire employment as a printer's apprentice. From an early age he also started contributing articles and humorous sketches for the Hannibal Journal. At the age of 18, he left Missouri and went to New York, Philadelphia and St Louis. He furthered his education in public libraries and became active in the print unions. He was a vocal supporter of organised labour all through his life, seeing how organised company had been in a position to give pretty poor conditions for workers.In 1859, he became a river pilot on the Mississippi river. It was a profitable job with a salary of $250 a month. The job essential excellent understanding of the river which he assiduously gained.

