He was born, on Feb. 11, 1847, to middle-class parents in the bustling port of Milan, Ohio: a community that, next to Odessa, Russia, was the largest wheat shipping center in the world. ... At age seven - after spending 12 weeks in a one room schoolhouse with 39 other students of all ages - Tom's overworked short tempered teacher lost his patience with the child's persistent questioning and relatively self centered behavior. ... It wasn't long before Tom developed a strong interest in world history and English literature. Years later, his love of Shakespeare lead him to briefly ...

• Word Count: 3349
• Approx Pages: 13
• Grade Level: Undergraduate