Mark Twain

He was born in a year when Halley's Comet appeared (1835), and died the year the comet returned (1910).

Worked for the "Territorial Enterprise" newspaper from 1861-64.

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).

Loved to speculate with his money, but almost always unfortunately. This led to his filing for bankruptcy in 1894.

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.

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.

An asteroid discovered on September 24, 1976, has been named 2632 Mark Twain in his honor.

Inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians in 1982 and the Nevada Writers Hall of Fame in 1998.

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.

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 International Mustache Hall of Fame in 2015 (inaugural class) in the category Historical Figure.